3. Reine Church: Steinway & Sons model B, 2009

When Lofoten International Chamber Music Festivalwas established in 2004, there was no grand piano in Reine. There was hardly a usable piano in the entire Moskenes Municipality. The then mayor Lillian Hansen was made aware of the situation.

The festival wanted to have concerts in the municipality, but then had to pick up instruments from outside. The new mayor, Geir Wulf-Nilsen takes initiative In 2009, he started a round of calls to the most prosperous business leaders around the municipality.

Local business is getting involved

The second conversation was with Atle Bergshaven, shipowner from Grimstad and main shareholder in Reine Rorbuer. The response was short and direct: “It’s okay, I’ll give money to a grand piano as long as I can be alone.”

Speeding up

This happened in May 2009, and once again Thron Ihrby in Steinway Norway was playing along and provided a one-year-old Steinway & Sons model B with a discount of 100,000,-. Atle Bergshaven paid for the grand piano, which was used for the first time on Friday 10. July at 19.00 the same year. Also this time it was Nils Mortensen who got the honor of inaugurating Reine Church’s new grand piano.