Sponsorship

Starlight Children’s Foundation

The Starlight Foundation aims to brighten the lives of seriously ill and hospitalised children and their families throughout Australia. Their program grants the wishes of children suffering from a serious illness, and relies heavily on donations and partnerships.

Yamaha Music was contacted by a Starlight volunteer in May when 12-year-old cancer patient Elpitha, made her wish for a new piano. Elpitha is a proficient pianist and has learnt on an old piano that has at least three broken hammers and many keys that don't work. The Starlight volunteer and Elpitha researched all brands and models of pianos available to pick the perfect piano for this talented Grade 8 pianist. After all of this research, Elpitha said the piano she wanted more than any other was a Yamaha U series.

In early June, after weeks of planning the wish, a presentation took place at the Sydney Opera House. The Sydney Symphony held a concert featuring piano soloist, Gerhard Oppitz, who was visiting from Germany. In conjunction with Sydney Symphony and the Starlight Foundation, Yamaha was part of the special post concert presentation ceremony where Elpitha met Gerhard Oppitz as well as chief conductor of the Sydney Symphony, Maestro Gelmettti. Yamaha Music presented to Elpitha a giant piano voucher for a Yamaha U3 Upright Piano and a Yamaha gift basket – which included Yamaha merchandise, piano music, a piano cover, 12 months worth of tuning and Yamaha Piano Competition CDs.

“When I was first diagnosed with cancer in January 2006, I thought my whole world had collapsed. Nobody can understand how thankful I am, especially to Marnie [from Yamaha Music Australia] who has made this so special and memorable for me.”
Elpitha

“Everyone has been so overwhelmed and inspired by the support of Yamaha Australia on this special wish. What you have done for Elpitha has changed her life and given her opportunities and inspiration that seems impossible. It was the greatest experience we could have hoped for and that’s mainly because of you. We can pay for things and ask for things, but it is organisations and companies like Yamaha Australia that are the real heroes behind wishes coming true. As clichéd as it sounds – we simply can’t do the work we do without this level of support.”
Starlight

Starlight Children’s Foundation Australia : www.starlight.org.au