Music school Penzberg: "Key sponsors" are to finance a new grand piano

Created: 06/22/2022, 10:00 am

By: Franziska Seliger

Looking for "key sponsors" to buy a new grand piano: music school director Johannes Meyer (front) and his deputy Simon Zehntbauer.

© Seliger

In order to be able to buy a grand piano for its new concert hall in the former Metropol cinema, the music school of the city of Penzberg is now looking for people who would like to sponsor the keys of the instrument - time is pressing, because the opening ceremony for the new one is in July music school.

Penzberg – “Music gives you wings”.

This is the motto of the head of the music school, Johannes Meyer, and his deputy, Simon Zehntbauer.

"The idea is that the citizens can choose one or more keys on the grand piano and buy them," explains Zehntbauer on Tuesday at the presentation of the "key sponsorship".

Existing grand piano is too small for new hall

Meyer explains that the music school is currently using the grand piano there for concerts, which usually take place in the auditorium of the Mayor Prandl School.

But this instrument does not belong to the music school but to the Musikfreunde-Verein, says Meyer.

However, once the ongoing renovation work in the former Metropol cinema is complete, which is intended to turn the former cinema into a new music school, there will also be a large concert hall here - and one would like to see a large concert grand piano in there, says Meyer, who emphasizes: "Now is a unique opportunity to buy a real grand piano for the new music and culture center 'Metropol'."

Apart from the fact that the grand piano should remain in the school auditorium, it would also simply be too small for the size of the new concert hall.

According to Zehntbauer, its sound volume and quality are not sufficient.

In addition, ambitious piano students at the school who are preparing for their music studies, for example, as well as pianists from abroad who are traveling to concerts, should in future find an adequate instrument in Penzberg so that they can also appropriately hear the pieces performed.

Pianists should be able to play "the finest nuances" on the new grand piano and also be able to strike the softest notes, according to Meyer.

According to Meyer, a new grand piano would cost between 150,000 and 180,000 euros.

A used instrument costs between 55,000 and 80,000 euros.

According to Meyer, these sums resulted from initial discussions with manufacturers.

Whether you can buy a new or a used grand piano will depend on how many keyboard sponsors are found.

However, Meyer assumes that the instrument will be used.

A grand piano consists of 88 black and white keys in total.

But sponsorships are no longer possible for everyone.

"The concert pitch 'a', the 'tuning tone', has already been sold," says Zehntbauer.

The godfather paid 5000 euros for it.

also read

Dilapidated roof and steep stairs: district office building is to be renovated - problem of monument protection

Blue light ticker for the Weilheim-Schongau region: the driver falls asleep and comes to the opposite lane – a serious accident

C-keys cost 2000 euros each

However, sponsorships are still being sought for C-keys.

They cost 2000 euros each.

All the other keys in the central area of ​​the piano can be had for 250 euros each, says Zehntbauer.

The keys on the outside of the keyboard cost 100 euros each.

Although the campaign is only just beginning, eleven sponsorships with a total value of around 8,000 euros have already been sold.

The city has pledged 40,000 euros and Sparkasse Oberland will donate 1,000 euros as support, according to Meyer.

Now music lovers are in demand who don't just want to go to Munich for a concert.

Music school director Johannes Meyer

Nevertheless, many sponsors would of course be needed in order to be able to purchase the concert grand.

"Now music lovers are in demand who don't just want to go to Munich for a concert," says Meyer, asking for support.

As a thank you, they would receive an individual sponsorship certificate naming their button.

And if there are more godparents than there are keys on the grand piano?

"Then we'll sell the pedals," says Zehntbauer with a laugh.

He and Meyer are optimistic that enough sponsors will be found to be able to buy at least one used instrument - but time is of the essence.

Because the big opening ceremony of the new music school with invited guests is planned for July 22nd.

And this is where the new wing will be used for the first time.

Anyone who would like to become a key sponsor can find out more about the project in a flyer.

It is available in the music school office in the Rathauspassage and in the town hall.

Sponsors and donors can transfer the desired amount to the Penzberg Music School account: DE 89 7035 1030 0000 3000 20;

BYLADEM1WHM;

Purpose: "key sponsorship".

You can donate until the beginning of July.