Congraulations to Albury North Public School (a primary in Southern NSW), winners of the brand new grand piano!
We received hundreds of entries from around Australia and thanks to everyone who entered and the effort they went to.
To celebrate the arrival of the new piano, ABC Classic FM did a special live broadcast from the school on Thursday 18 September, 2008 at 11.05am .
Listen to a ABC Classic FM broadcast from Albury North Public School with presenter Julian Day. Hear the new piano plus a wonderful concert performed by students from the school and local area:
Real Player | Windows Media
Listen to the announcement of the winner, made during SIPCA at the Sydney Opera House:
Real Player | Windows Media
Listen to an interview with the winners: Real Player |Windows Media
The winning entry was written and submitted by Sarah W, a year 5 student:
“Our principal is very much in favour of the performing arts and our school has a choir and a dance ensemble. This year for the first time, my mum and aunty volunteered and began some recorder groups. In our hall we only have a small very old upright piano, so every time we play it, it goes out of tune. Wouldn’t all students, teachers and parents be shocked and so grateful to win a magnificent grand piano?! This beautiful instrument it would encourage more children to sing and play music. Every child needs music in their life. Music makes everyone happy.”
Winner in 2004
In 2004 Wangaratta West Primary School took the prize piano with an entry that included a poem by the students in praise of their music teacher. The win even inspired one listener to donate a further $10,000 to the school for a new music room.
Here at Wang West
We have the best
In our music teacher Miss Wills
She sings and she dances
And gives us those "glances"
And imparts her incredible skills
Our piano, it's sad
It's condition quite bad
The sound it delivers sends chills
Miss Wills plays divine
But we all know she pines
For a piano to improve our musical skills
Your competition banner
"Grab the Goanna"
Is the perfect answer to our ills
It will add sparkle and charm
With serenity and calm
And give us all "Grand Piano' thrills
Winner in 2000
In 2000 ABC Classic FM came up with the inspired idea to give away a piano, in conjunction with the Sydney International Piano Competition, to a winning school. Entitled Grab the Goanna, the competition attracted entries from schools across the country. The principal of the first winning school, Port Melbourne Primary School, wrote to Classic FM: “I don’t think we could’ve ever imagined what this win would mean to our school community … The school as it was then known – Graham Street Primary School – didn’t quite have the ‘glamour’ status that many schools have. It is no secret that our community is not wealthy, and negative perceptions are hard to shake. However, winning the piano suddenly changed the attitude of the school’s community …”