manchester jazz festival and Forsyth Music Shop have joined forces once again for the mjf2023 piano trail: to find Manchester’s hidden talents across a trail of 13 street pianos at locations across Manchester city centre. From 27 April – 28 May, the mjf piano trail encourages everyone to get creative and share their talent and for those who want to take part, there’s a chance to enter a competition to win a Yamaha P-45B piano and many more prizes.
THE LAUNCH
We’re delighted to announce that the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, will be at the launch of the mjf2023 piano trail, which will take place from 1pm on the 27 April 2023 at Piccadilly Train Station. The launch will feature performances by Leo Cheung – last year’s piano trail winner – and Edward Harris-Brown, a young pianist from Chetham’s School of Music and some of his fellow students.
The mjf piano trail is delivered in partnership with the world-renowned Forsyth Music Shop of Deansgate and is part of manchester jazz festival 2023 (mjf2023) which will take place at 10 venues across the city from 19 - 28 May.
The 13 piano locations are: Piccadilly Station, Manchester Arndale, Harvey Nichols, HOME, Victoria Station, MediaCityUK, Great Northern, Corn Exchange, Spinningfields, Manchester Art Gallery, Royal Exchange Arcade, Central Library and Forsyth Music Shop.
Alongside the piano trail itself, there will also be two bespoke piano trail walking tours available, run by the Free Manchester Walking Tours, on the 13 and 27 May (£10 per adult, £5 per child) and some scheduled performances at Harvey Nichols and the Corn Exchange during the trail. Visit manchesterjazz.com/pianotrail to find out more about the piano trail, the walking tours and how to take part in the competition.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “This city-region has music running through its veins, and helping connect people to new musical experiences and supporting talented musicians has always been so important to us. The mjf2023 piano trail will take music back out onto the streets of Manchester, giving more people the chance to try their hand at playing and to encounter the vibrant music of our city in a really unique way.”
Emma Loat, Manager of Forsyth’s Music, said: “We’ve had a street piano at the front of the Forsyth’s shop on Deansgate for over 6 years, so we know that Manchester and the surrounding areas is full of talented musicians and those willing to have a go. We’re really excited to supply 13 pianos for the mjf piano trail for another year and we’re looking forward to seeing and hearing some more fantastic performances. This year the trail will feature 2 Yamaha grand pianos! There are some tremendous prizes on offer this year so definitely worth entering the competition!”
James Sargeant from Yamaha, one of this year’s piano trail sponsors, said: “We are thrilled to be working with the manchester jazz festival again this year in support of the mjf piano trail 2023. This fantastic initiative enables anyone and everyone to enjoy playing and listening to the piano, in some iconic locations across the city and of course, with the chance to win a Yamaha digital piano this is not an opportunity to be missed! We look forward to hearing lots of new talent which will no doubt emerge during the trail.”
HOW TO ENTER
To be in with a chance of winning a prize, simply find one of the pianos in the trail, capture a short video of your performance (2 minutes max) and post the video to your Instagram, Facebook or Twitter account (*not as a story). Tag mjf @manchesterjazzfestival on Facebook or Instagram or @manjazzfest on Twitter and use the hashtag #mjfpianotrail2023
There are no rules regarding who can apply, what kind of music you play or what your performance involves. Just have fun and get creative!
At the end of the piano trail, mjf and Forsyth’s will select 10 winners and the winning entries will be showcased on social media and YouTube.
PRIZES
The prizes up for grabs are:
- Yamaha: Yamaha Digital Piano P-45B
- Northern Rail: Four return tickets at any time to anywhere on Northern Rail network
- Harvey Nichols wine tasting for six people
- £100 of gift vouchers for The Real Greek and a copy of The Real Greek cookbook at the Corn Exchange
- Batting net experience and Prosecco for group of six at the Sixes Social Cricket at the Corn Exchange
- £50 bar tab at Lions Den on Deansgate Mews, Great Northern
- Meal for two plus drinks at Donor Haus, Corn Exchange
- Quayside MediaCityUK prize package worth over £100: including meal for 2 at Bella Italia Salford Quays, 2x Vue cinema tickets, £25 Love to Shop vouchers and Salford Monopoly set
- Afternoon tea for two at Manchester Art Gallery
mjf2023 takes place from 19 - 28 May at venues across Manchester city centre. Visit manchesterjazz.com for more information and to book tickets.
Follow us
Facebook at /manchesterjazzfestival
Instagram @manchesterjazzfestival
Twitter @ManJazzFest
Hashtag for piano trail: #mjfpianotrail2023
