New saldo of the donations account

After purchasing 2 new Yamaha upright pianos with a huge discount granted by Yamaha Croatia of 35% off - being a valuable donation for the action, and 50% off for the piano chairs, price of one piano was 17.812,66 kn including transport and tuning and delivery to classrooms, and after receiving payment of funds raised by the charity concert held in Cavtat on 27th September 2007 in total of 3.300,00 kn (Hypo bank 2.000,00 kn, Suzi Curtis Kojaković 250 kn and remaining sold tickets for concert and raffle 1.050,00 kn) the new saldo on the donations account is 3.042,04 kn.

The action is continuing until 1st December 2007.

Two new Yamaha upright pianos

We are very happy to announce that we have managed to purchase two new Yamaha upright pianos with the funds raised up to 20th September within this action. The pianos have been delivered to Pakrac, tuned and the children of Pakrac music school are already playing on them! In total we have so far acquired 4 upright pianos, out of 7 necessary pianos. This is a huge success for all of us in the organizing team of the action, but also for all those who donated and supported the action! The action proceeds until 1st December 2007. Many thanks everyone!

Beautiful concert held in Cavtat

A charity concert was held in Cavtat on 27th September 2007 for the benefit of our action. Young pianists Matea Leko, Lana Genc, Andrea Vigna Taglianti and Tomislav Previšić performed works by Chopin, Liszt, Ravel, Skrjabin. The concert was beautiful and the audience enjoyed it. Mayors of both Cavtat and Pakrac - cities bonded with friendship for years, were present with their wives. Cavtat has shown a great heart for Pakrac and to all those who donated for this concert - many thanks! Special thanks once again to the organizer Mrs Vidoviä!

Hypo banka podupire dobrotvornu akciju

Zagreb, 26th September 2007. - We are very happy indeed that Hypo Alpe-Adria-Bank Croatia continues to support our action. After supporting the charity concert held in June in Zagreb, Hypo Bank will support the charity concert to be held in Cavtat tomorrow. Mayors of both Cavtat and Pakrac will be present at the concert. Young pianists Matea Leko, Lana Genc, Andrea Vigna Taglianti and Tomislav Previšić will perform works by Chopin, Liszt, Ravel, Skrjabin. All revenue from tickets and raffle tickets sale will be donated to the Pakrac music school. Many thanks again to Mrs Vidoviä who initiated and organized this concert and to the Hypo bank!

New donator

OTP bank has recognized the importance of this action and has deicded to sponsor the Epidaurus festival in part of transport costs for artists performing at the charity concert. Many thanks!

Epidaurus Festival

Music knows no boundaries, therefore it is no surprise that further support to our action comes from the very south of Croatia - Cavtat. There will be a charity concert held on 27th September 2007 in Cavtat, within the Epidaurus arts festival. The initiator and organizer of this festival is a pianist from Dubrovnik - Ivana Marija Vidovic, who had suggested this concert after playing at our concert in June in Zagreb. The revenue of the concert will be donated to our action. More on the festival www.epidaurusfestival.com.

New energy

Summer vacation is behind us and a new school year in fron of us. The summer vacation however was not a period of standstill for the action. We are happy to inform you that the Zagreb company Elektroprojekt d.d. Zagreb donated the Pakrac school with 3.000,00 Kn! Our special thanks go to the director Mr Kruno Galić and also to the gentleman who inspired the company to donate, Elektroprojekt employee Mr Vedran Jurić. Mr Juriä is a music enthusiast who has visited our concert in June. The concert had inspired him to take further action. The result is wonderful. Thank you!

A splendid concert

Not even the heavy rain which poured over Zagreb on 5th June could have prevented the numerous audience to attend the beautiful charity concert of our action. We had excellent news that all tickets had been sold out the day before the concert and had to sell standing places. The beautiful hall of the Croatian Historic Museum in Zagreb has hosted the performance of three Croatian young pianists Lana Genc, Ivana Marija Vidović and Matea Leko. All three performed splendidly and gained approvement by the audience with a long lasting applauding. After the concert we held a raffle. We herewith thank once again to all who donated for this concert and supported the action. So far we have raised 31.649,36 Kn, and by this concert alone 12.360,00 Kn! Splendid indeed!

Ivana Marija Vidović at the piano in the Croatian Historic Museum

Žanina Bilić, as the organizer, congratulates her colleagues on an excellent performance

Ivana Marija Vidović

Lana Genc

Matea Leko

First two donated pianos arrive in Pakrac!

4th June 2007 was the day on which we arranged transport and delivery of the first two donated pianos in our action. We all meet in the Pakrac music school at noon! An important and happy day for our action!

Transport of the acoustic Petrof upright piano donated by Mrs Mihaela Pržulj from Zagreb.

Žanina bilić has tried the donated digital piano, placed on the 2nd floor of the Pakrac music school. Mrs Blazevic the schoolßs secretary stand on the left, and the donator of the piano, Mr. Peerkovic on the right - director of company Skala from Zagreb.

Second donated upright piano

We were very happy to receive news on a second donated upright piano in our action! Mrs. Mihaela Pržulj, from Zagreb, inspired by our action has donated her 15 years old Petrof upright piano, in very good condition to the music school in Pakrac. This is an acoustic piano, unlike the first donated piano which was digital. Many thanks to Mrs. Przulj! To the children of Pakrac music school this piano means a lot, in class, in practice time and preparations for classes equally.

Charity Concert for the charity action Pianino za Pakrac

On Tuesday 5th. June 2007

at 20.30

Povijesni muzej, Matoševa 9, Zagreb

Three marvellous young Croatian pianists will play:
Lana Genc
Matea Leko
Ivana Marija Vidović
performing works by Chopin, Liszt and Dora Pejačević.

*********
Refreshments will be provided, and there will also be a raffle with many wonderful prizes
**********
All revenue from ticket sales both for the concert and the raffle will be donated to the music school in Pakrac.
Tickets will be sold at 100 kn, and raffle tickets at 10 kn. Tickets will be sold by the members of the organizing team, in sale from 16th May onwards.

All information about purchasing tickets at tel: 098 418 546.

Click for auction rules...

Pianino za Pakrac
Upright piano for Pakrac

"When one does a thing, it appears good, otherwise one would not do it. Only later comes reflection, and one discards or accepts the thing. Time is the best censor, and patience a most excellent teacher."
From a letter by Frédéric Chopin

A charity fundraising action

• The action is dedicated to the person and works of Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849), the famous Polish composer and pianist, who composed almost exclusively for the piano, performed at concerts and taught. Chopin participated in numerous charity concerts and actions himself. The dates of the action' events are dates linked to a chosen event from Chopin's life, therefore the action will 'officially' open on 1st March - Chopin's birthday.

• The action will be dedicated to the affirmation of classical music education. Regardless of whether the child will or will not pursue music as a career, classical music education contributes to a child's development, the development of various skills and abilities, which are applicable on other fileds as well

• The action will have interactive - educational touch - for all primary and secondary school kids. Children will be able to write about, to draw on the subject, to lead interviews and publish some of their works on the website, communicate with other children and participants through the internet - the website specifically created for this action.

Beneficiary of the action: Pakrac Music School

Initiators and organizers of the action: Žanina Bilić, prof, pianist and piano teacher and Alfreda Petani Grafina, prof, Pakrac Music School (abbreviated 'Pakrac MS') Headmistress

Target of the action: to obtain 7 upright pianos for Pakrac MS

Desired outcome: obtaining 7 upright pianos or obtaining funds to buy 7 upright pianos

Just for orientation, a price of a new (acoustic) upright piano is between 12.000 and 17.000 Kn, clavinova (electrically powered piano) between 5.000 Kn and 8.000 Kn, depending on producer and distributor. Action's first target is to raise 12.000 Kn for 1 new acoustic upright piano, during the first 6 months of the action's duration. Should 12.000 Kn be raised earlier, the action will continue to raise funds for all 7 upright pianos or upright pianos themselves.

Duration of the action: until achievement of target, initially 6 months (1st March 2007 until 1st September 2007).

Payment will be/may be made directly/or upon collection only to Pakrac MS's account: 2340009 - 1110091073

Pakrac MS has difficulties to acquire upright pianos/to raise funds for upright pianos, therefore Mrs Bilić has started this initiative, which will feature a series of events. Most of the events will take place in Zagreb. Donators may be all physical or legal persons.

• You may donate money - even contributions of 5, 10, 15 and 20 kn are precious and most welcome. You may donate the desired amount at any given moment to the above mentioned account of the Pakrac MS. You may donate by attending any event or as addition to attending an event. There is no upper limit for the donation.
• You may donate upright pianos  - acoustic ones; new or used. If used - in good condition, clavinovas or equivalent electrically powered pianos (with full range of keys - min. 88 keys) - new or used, if used - in good condition or, discount on purchase of upright pianos or clavinovas/equivalent
• You may donate various services and goods during the action, aimed at fulfilling the action's target. E.g. you may donate transport from the donator to Pakrac MS, media coverage and alike.

Donators may choose, if they wish to:

• Remain anonymous or
• Be thankd for the donation publicly, stating their name and surname at the website of the action and all the media which will cover the action

The action's patrons are:

The action's supporters and/or donators who have donated so far are:

1. Žanina Bilić, prof.  - donates organizational support during the entire duration of the action and 50% of her next 3 concerts' revenue
2. Miljenko Hajdarović, prof. - donates IT services of executing and maintaining a website PianinoZaPakrac.com
3. Suzi Curtis-Kojaković - Secretary British Croatian Business Network; www.bcbn.org, donates logistics support
4. Joseph Whitfield - Adriatic Property Services; www.adriaticpropertyservices.com, donates logistics and organizational support

Information about the action, event announcements, information about the Pakrac MS and the city of Pakrac will be obtainable at these webpages:
www.pakrac.hr
www.grafina.de/ogs-pakrac
www.zaninabilic.com
www.PianinoZaPakrac.com