Pianist performs to restore 160 year old piano

​Colleen Rae-Gerrard, a former concert pianist with an international career, is raising funds to restore the piano at Isel House to its former glory.

The piano, a John Broadwood & Sons grand piano was built in London in 1864, brought to Nelson in 1859 and gifted to Isel House in 2019.  

Due to the piano's age, it requires a specialist to replace internal parts so it can play as it did when it was first built. Colleen says the magic of having a piano like this is how it sounds.  

“If you can hear what people would have heard back in 1864, when it was built, you can appreciate its history and value.” 

Colleen has arranged a series of concerts, held each Wednesday throughout November, at Isel House with all donations going to the restoration. 

The City of Nelson Civic Trust supports the development of cultural, artistic and social amenities in the city, and the preservation of historic landmarks.