A public piano has been installed in York Station.

It’s a collaboration between the music charity Richard Shephard Music Foundation (RSMF), London North Eastern Railway (LNER), and the piano reuse initiative, Piano Equals.

It aims to bring music to a public space while also supporting young musicians across Yorkshire and the North East.

“We heard about a scheme that repurposes and donates old pianos to put in public,” Cathy Grant, CEO of RSMF, told YorkMix.

“We had a trek down to Cambridge, and we got this piano from someone called Millers Music, and managed to get it delivered up here to put into the station.

“Our friends at LNER have been really kind at putting it in the station and trialling it, but it’s to raise awareness for the charity, and also to bring a bit of joy into the people’s lives as they’re passing through York as well.”

“There’s always someone on the piano,” James Downey added, finance director at LNER and RSMF trutsee. “Last night, I was walking through the station about 6pm, and there was a lady playing Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata and doing a fantastic version of it.

“It does just put a big smile on your face.”

RSMF, founded in 2021 in memory of composer Dr Richard Shephard, has celebrated its most successful year to date, with over 8,685 children receiving weekly music lessons through partnerships with 34 schools.

This milestone marks significant progress toward the Foundation’s goal of teaching 10,000 children every week by 2026 – a target that will mean almost one in seven primary-aged children in the region will have regular access to high-quality music education.

The public piano set up in the corner of the foyer in York station. Photograph: Rachel Rogers

“I’ve seen people of all ages playing the piano,” said Cathy.

“From the charity’s perspective, we’re trying to encourage children to use their voices to experiment with creative arts and to really express themselves. So to be able to see adults doing that as they walk through the station, and for music to be part of their everyday lives is amazing.”

The public piano is here to stay at York station for “as long as possible.”

“We’re going to tune it as often as it needs, and we’ve got people that come and check on it in the station to make sure it’s functioning,” said Cathy.

“We’re always looking to improve our station environments, ” said James, “and this was a great way of doing that, partnering up with a fantastic charity.”

Cathy encourages schools in the area to reach out to the Richard Shephard Music Foundation. “We’re really interested in speaking to schools who are struggling to provide music on a weekly basis.

“We’re teaching around 10,000 children music a week now in the region that’s from Middlesbrough across to Scarborough down to Selby and all across York, in 10 of the local primary schools.

“We’ve got really big ambitions to grow that for the region. And who knows, we could find the next Spice Girls!”

For more information about RSMF and its work supporting schools, please visit their website here.