Serena Kirby, Denmark Bulletin

The eagerly-awaited community piano has arrived in Denmark.

The pre-loved piano was donated to the Denmark community earlier this year as part of the ABC’s nationwide Pop-Up Piano Project.

Local music teacher Robin Thomson coordinated the piano’s delivery and worked through the challenges of finding a suitable location for it in town.

“It’s been a huge task as the original piano we were promised fell through and then the original spot in town we’d hoped to place the piano also fell through,” Robin said.

But these two negatives have resulted in positives as the replacement piano is a Beale and a far superior brand than the one originally promised.

Robin said it was one of the ‘nicest looking Beale pianos’ he had come across and that these pianos are ‘extremely sturdy instruments, built like tanks, and highly suitable as street pianos’.

“We’ve also found a great new location for the piano on the veranda next to the entrance to the library,” Robin said.

“This has turned out to be a great find as it’s a central location with good foot traffic and there’s a disability access ramp and a security camera.”

The piano also needed a seat and Jenni Harrison stepped up to donate her mother’s piano stool.

Jenni’s mother, the late Margaret Stock, was a much-loved piano teacher in Denmark.

Robin hoped the Denmark community would embrace the instrument and the music it would bring to town.

“We want it to create an intergenerational connection that encourages spontaneous music expression, creativity and joy and one that’ll contribute to boosting mental health and social wellbeing of all,” Robin said.

A community launch concert will be held August 30 at 10.30am at the entrance to the Denmark library.

The concert will feature local pianist Adam Cook and singer/keyboardist Rosie Williamson.

This article appeared in Denmark Bulletin, 21 August 2025.