Near the end of 2019, the Deer Harbor Community Club replaced its venerable old upright piano. Rather than let the old one go to the dump, the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival suggested that it would make a great public street piano in downtown Eastsound, and Board member Mimi Summerville and her husband Slim gamely agreed to house it at their place until warmer weather arrived.

Then came 2020, and a full-blown pandemic quickly put those plans on pause. Mimi and Slim happily okayed the idea of keeping the instrument in storage while we waited and hoped for better days.

We are thrilled those better days have finally arrived. With the help of Mimi, Slim, and others, Orcas’ very first street piano was unveiled this past week in central Eastsound directly outside Ray’s Pharmacy. We look forward to any and all musicians and aspiring musicians giving it a go as they’re milling about town.

If you hear live piano music wafting through the air on your next visit to Eastsound, thank the Deer Harbor Community Club for the piano, Mimi and Slim Sommerville for piano storage and moving, Rick and Marlace Hughes for providing its new home, and Sallie Bell and Martin Lund for the bench. We are grateful to them all for their help in turning OICMF’s piano dream into a reality. Maybe you’ll want to offer a tune yourself!