Moray Firth Pianos

07/05/2026

🚨 Highland Music News 🚨

Norman Bolton is leaving his role as Head of Music Development at Highlife Highland this year, and apparently they’re planning to replace him with an actual human.

Bold strategy. 😅

Surely by now we could just build:
🎹 NormanOS 2.0
🎼 Powered by optimism
☕ Fuelled entirely by tea and school concert adrenaline

Capabilities would include:
✔️ Supporting music projects across the Highlands
✔️ Knowing absolutely everyone in music education
✔️ Remaining calm while 200 children enter a stage carrying percussion instruments

Scientists are now urgently investigating whether his role can be filled by:
A) one person
B) three people
C) advanced artificial intelligence

Early results suggest AI still struggles with:
🎼 Highland music logistics
🎹 Last-minute concert chaos
🎤 Convincing teenagers rehearsals are actually a good idea

Meanwhile Norman has been doing all three for years.

As AI systems still can’t cope with recorder ensembles, it looks like we may not be there yet.

All joking aside Norman, you are absolutely one of the great musical heroes of the Highlands. I’m very selective about who I’d call a legend, but you genuinely are one. Your impact on music and on so many people’s lives has been immense and lasting. Bravo sir. And, a huge thank you to a true champion of music development in the Highlands 👏👏🎶

View details and apply for this secondary education role in with High Life Highland on myjobscotland

24/04/2026

🎹 Akustika Messe Nürnberg 2026 done. Although, it’s confirmed one thing; piano makers are either gloriously mad or geniuses.
While the jury’s out on that, it’s brilliant to see, in the flesh, that creativity is alive and well.

✨ A 9-octave double-ended grand with 5 pedals, because 3 clearly wasn’t enough.
✨ A micro-key piano for smaller hands, making Rachmaninoff slightly less terrifying.
✨ The quirky Keybird X1 tiny single-string piano; proof that small can be mighty.
✨ A stunning curved piano; straight lines are overrated.
✨ An incredible accessible piano where pedal functions can be controlled by blinking your eyes. Brilliant innovation, and great to catch up with the guy behind this 👏


Steingraeber Pianos

21/03/2026

📣A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR 📣

Almost a week on from the conclusion of the 2026 festival I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone for making the festival the success it was! 👏🏻☺️

To my entire committee who surprised me with the presentation of a trophy last week and who work tirelessly throughout the year; Mary Dormer (Friends Secretary), Angus Bethune (Treasurer), Munro Ross (Minutes Secretary), Amanda James (Trophy Secretary), Nellie McClurg (Contracts Secretary), Carolyn Edees (Volunteers Secretary), Mhairi Ross and Moira Leslie (Committee Members) and of course to my wonderful Vice Chair and Festival Organiser, Samara Hodi 👏🏻 I’m so very lucky to have such a great group of people to run the festival with! 🤩

To all of our volunteers, adjudicators and accompanists, thank you for making the festival a special and welcoming place for all performers from the very young to the not so very young 😅 it’s what’s makes our festival the inclusive environment we strive for!

To Rev Andy Bryer, his wife Janet Bryer and the entire leadership team of the Inverness Methodist Church a huge thank you for their continued support and commitment to hosting us 😊

To the businesses who support us: Moray Firth Pianos, The Waterfront and Lettuce Eat thank you for providing us with the piano and our food! ☺️🎹🍽️

And finally, to all of our entrants, supporters and followers, thank you as always for your constant support! This is the reason we do it and I feel very fortunate to be in my position as Chair and keep seeing everyone go from strength to strength! 🤩👏🏻

So thank you to you all, I hope you have a great weekend! There are still more posts to come on this page over the next few weeks, but time for a rest for the whole committee! ☺️

Jason 🎶

Jason McClurg
Chairperson
Inverness Festival Association

06/03/2026

I’ve been a bit quiet on here recently due to it been a very busy few months between the Christmas rush and a packed February getting secondary school pianos ready across four local authorities for practical exams, building up a bit of a backlog as a result. To my domestic clients, thank you so much for your patience while I catch up, expect a call soon!

A recent trip to Fort William to service the pianos at Lochaber High School for the Lochaber Music Festival included:

🤖 A robot cleaner patrolling the corridors
🫏 Some very cute (musically unhelpful, but I'd love to adopt both of you) donkeys at Whitebridge
🏔️ And a Highland view (featuring a very big hill) that’s not a bad office backdrop

02/07/2025

Love this job! Some days turn out to be like this one - like a scene from The Italian Job.

30/06/2025

BEWARE - The Generous Spirit of Lily Costner (and Her Magical Piano)

This ol' chestnut has been doing the round for a number of years. Wise words and warning, if it's too good to be true, it generally is. For giggles, I replied; Shakespearean style with just enough snark to delight the Bard himself. I'm not expecting a reply. The scam I hear you ask? They ask for delivery costs and well, you know the rest.

Dearest Lady Costner,

Thou noble widow of melodious intent,

Pray forgive my delay, for thy letter did arrive as sudden as a tempest upon mine inbox. A grand piano, thou sayest? From the cold hands of thy dearly departed lord? Oh, what music lies beneath this mystery!

Yet something is amiss, methinks.

Thine offer, so generous, doth reek not of charity, but of trickery most foul. For who, in mourning, doth leap to Gmail in search of a stranger to inherit such a stately instrument? Nay, this tale bears the fragrance of a knavish plot, the markings of a rogue with phishing fingers.

I beseech thee, madam. Return to thine stage, where actors ply their falsehoods with more grace. Lest ye wish to feel the sting of ridicule sharper than a serpent’s tooth.

Should thou truly possess a piano in need of love, let it find peace in a convent of nuns or the dusty corner of a tavern, where drunks may serenade their regrets.

As for me, I’ll not be the fool in thy comedy.

With mirth and caution,

Lord Bartholomew of Nonesuch, Keeper of Common Sense and Defender of Inboxes

28/05/2025

It's with deep sadness hearing Brian Kellock's passing yesterday and much too early. One of the kindest, legendary pianists I’ve had the honour to work for. Whether in his acclaimed trio or alongside jazz greats, Brian brought heart and brilliance to every performance. And offstage, he was as warm and humble as he was talented. His legacy will live forever in his recordings and in the countless lives he touched. Thoughts to his family and close friends.

https://ukjazznews.com/rip-brian-kellock-1962-2025/?fbclid=IwY2xjawKkTtRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFwNFppbUdBaXZIblA3dVhtAR5rYAhmRx975a6egBMY4DqROcVOaG6CeuUUQ-WFHzXHytuy942wt1NHNP87qg_aem_IVeuzSrYuaScjrzduBeHvg

We are very sad to hear of the death yesterday, 27 May 2025, of the very great Scottish pianist, a central and hugely influential figure on the Scottish scene for decades, Brian Kellock. We will have tributes in due course. In sadness, Phil Johnson: Very shocked and saddened to learn of Brian's deat...

17/05/2025

VACANCY: We're looking for a skilled technician to join our Technical team as a General Technician (Lighting). This is a perfect role for anyone with a passion for the arts and experience in Lighting and Technical production. 💡

Apply by Sun 8 Jun 2025
➡️ eden-court.co.uk/vacancy/general-technician-lighting

📸 Al Donnelly Photography

25/04/2025

View from the office today 🎹🎸

24/04/2025

Beautiful day for a run to Ullapool looking after Fèis Rois 🎹

28/03/2025

🎹 A Heartwarming Rescue Story!

Huge thanks to Lee at Rainbow International Highlands & Islands for recognising that this beautiful Collard & Collard piano deserved a second chance; not the landfill. With sentimental value to the family and years of memories, it was clear this piano still had a lot of music left to give.

Thanks to all the wonderful shares and support, it’s now found a new home at St. John's Forres, where it will be cherished and played once again. The former owner is absolutely delighted knowing she can visit and hear her piano any time is the perfect ending to this story.

(NB. Going to try my best to get round all the messages of interest received; there were many, and keep you in mind when other pianos looking for good homes appear)

👏 Cannot rate Lee and his team enough with their client's interests at heart. Nothing phased these guys in going the extra mile. A true team effort with a fantastic outcome.