Ivory oysters meet ivory keys
as ABC piano arrives on KI

By DANIEL CLARKE

09/07/26

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Seafood platter lunches at KI Oysters became an impromptu performance space for locals and tourists alike yesterday as surprised diners were treated to a special musical delivery.  

 

The Island Independent attended the arrival of a beautiful Beale piano to the wharf, along with about 50 curious patrons and onlookers. 

 

American River was chosen as one of 10 towns nationwide to receive one of the pre-loved instruments as part of the ABC’s Pop-Up Pianos initiative. 

 

Part-time island resident Jane Turner Goldsmith had the honour of being the first to send the piano’s notes reverberating around the oyster farm shed after her last-minute application to the ABC secured the town’s new community gift.

 

“I only submitted in the final hours before the application deadline while riding the ferry but I had a good feeling about it because the location is iconic and it’s got a great mix of locals and tourists – I’m thrilled for the community,” Jane said.

 

“Anything that is accessible and on this foreshore is really beautiful and if there’s a community piano that's all the better. Everyone loves having a real piano and it will be great when there’s people having a spontaneous tickle of the ivories.”

 

Jane’s playing of Bach’s Prelude No. 1 – her first performance on a piano in over 30 years – was followed by three young and aspiring pianists, including an emotional rendition of Billie Eilish’s What Was I Made For by local 10-year-old Martina Douglas that left some audience members in tears. 

 

Jane said her role now was to unearth new young talent from across the island for a special Pop-Up Pianos Community Launch Concert at KI Oysters on August 9. 

 

“We already have the excellent piano player and teacher Scott Ellson lined up who has nominated three or four students and two beginners who would like to perform,” she said.

 

“There are some real prodigies around on this island. Even if they don’t perform at the concert it will be so good for them to come and practice on this if they don’t have a piano at home. It’s a great way to bring people together. The wharf has become quite a hub and this will add to it. It’s the perfect spot for it.”

 

KI Oysters owners Todd and Marisa Packer agree, saying it was “really refreshing to get the news after all we have been through over the past 18 months with the algal bloom”.

 

“We were so excited when we found out,” Marisa said. “Jane thought our place would be the perfect location for the piano after she attended our Easter Saturday music event that about 300 people came along to. 

 

“The piano will bring a community vibe, a meeting point and a place for people to explore beautiful American River. It’s a point of difference because there aren’t many oyster farms with a piano!”

 

Todd said after the initial community concert, the pair will “develop an area over the other side of the premises near the foreshore which will be a hidden piano bar”.

 

“The public will be able to have access to it from both sides and it will be magnificent having the piano sound going out over the water,” he said. “After the concert we will set it up and anyone can come and have a play.

 

“It’s all part of making community enjoyable, organic, and a place of action." 

 

The Community Launch Concert will be held from 10am to noon at KI Oysters on Sunday 9 August and tickets are free but selling fast: https://events.humanitix.com/abc-pop-up-piano-2026-community-launch-concert-in-american-river