From Pianos for Uganda to Kampala Music School

[Kampala Music School © 2007]

Pianos for Uganda was a charitable effort begun in 1998 which collected used upright pianos from Britain, shipped them to Uganda, and allowed music students to use them at schools and other appropriate locations. The program retained ownership of the instruments, and maintained them regularly. Its Newsletter No. 3 in March 2000 reported, among other things:

“The upkeep and proper use of the pianos will continue to be monitored regularly. Most recipients have been able to contribute towards transport and importation costs. We continue to be immensely grateful to DAS Express in Gatwick who arrange the transport at very reduced rates.”

“The availability of good instruments has led to two exciting results - Ivan Kiwuwa aged 16 won a full Scholarship to Wells Cathedral School and started in January 2000 on the specialist Music course and is doing well. Paul Luggya, 20, has just won the Senior Music Class in the Kenya Music Competition sponsored by PriceWaterhouse Coopers which included all instruments and nationalities.”

Ivan Kiwuwa was the subject of this post on AfriClassical:

“Ivan Kiwuwa (b. 1983), Ugandan Pianist & Violinist”

“We learned of Ivan Kiwuwa from Dr. William H. Chapman Nyaho, pianist, professor and music editor. Born in the U.S. and raised in Ghana, he is profiled at AfriClassical.com We soon found Dr. Chapman Nyaho's high opinion of Ivan's musical talents is widely shared by audiences and critics.”
Full post

Fiona Carr was among the people involved in Pianos for Uganda, so we invited her to comment on the program:

“Yes, I helped start the scheme in 1999, as after 20 years of war Uganda had no reasonable pianos and a LOT of talent!
I decided only to teach Ugandan talent and when the students took their International ABRSM exams they caught the eye of the examiner and he helped Simon Yiga and me get the scheme off the ground.
Availability of pianos very soon made the talent explode and so raising funds and opening Kampala Music School became the next un-avoidable move! KMS opened in 2001 and within a very short time has become a centre of excellence. The web site which is currently being up-dated will fill you in on where it has now got to.

After some 80 pianos had been sent to and put around Uganda we closed the scheme as such, as money seemed more urgently needed for a new purpose built Music School.”

KampalaMusicSchool.com is the school's website. It explains:

“Over 60 donated pianos and an organ have been brought into Uganda and placed in schools, colleges, churches and practice centres, as well as numerous string, wind and brass instruments.”

“KMS was purpose built in an unused semi-basement at the YMCA in the centre of Kampala and it was opened in March 2001 with Simon Yiga appointed Director. It has 7 practice/teaching rooms and a class room, each with a piano, which are in use all of everyday.”

“KMS teachers, mostly Ugandan, have nearly all been trained by and studied with Fiona Carr, piano and Ulrike Wilson, voice.”

“The International ABRSM Diplomas have provided the incentive to advanced study here in Kampala and many of our students have been successful in Piano, Voice, Organ and Violin, as performers and teachers. The ABRSM examiner visits Kampala each June and the results are consistently well above the international average. A few of our students have gained full scholarships to study music at specialist music colleges in the U.K.”

Fiona Carr notes that Kampala Music School has begun a campaign to raise about £300,000 for land for a new building to house its operations. Fanfare No. 6, the Newsletter for March 2007, reports:

“There is already a promise of German funding for the building once we have secured somewhere to put it.”

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Fiona+Carr" rel="tag">Fiona Carr
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