A CAMPAIGN to keep a grand piano on Teesside has struck a global chord.

International musicians have sent letters of support to campaigners trying to raise enough money to buy a Steinway, the centre piece of six years of recitals at the Sir William Turner seventeenth century almshouses at Kirkleatham, Redcar.

For the past six years organisers of the classical concerts have hired the Steinway grand piano from a nearby theatre. Now the instrument is for sale.

Concerned that new owners may not want the piano played at future concerts, the trustees of the almshouses are desperate to buy it.

They have already won the support of some renowned pianists. They include Graham Scott, the professor of keyboard studies at Chicago University's School of Performing Arts, who has played twice at Kirkleatham.

Martin Cousin, one of Britain's leading pianists, famous for his film work as a pianist double, Adam Skoumal, one of the Czech Republic's leading pianists, Evgeny Soifertis of Kiev, Daiva Stulgyte of Lithuania and Jill Crossland are also backing the campaign. Mami Shikimori, recognised as one of the finest young pianists to come out of Japan, has added her support.

She says in a letter: "Not every venue has such an excellent piano as the one at Kirkleatham. It was a treat to perform on that Steinway piano in the lovely venue to a well attended warm audience."

Retired printer Peter Sotheran, who launched the campaign to buy the Steinway, said: "We are really most grateful to all these brilliant musicians for their kind comments on the piano and our concerts."

The appeal has raised more than £600 in a matter of weeks but needs to raise a further £1,200 to bridge the gap between hoped-for grants and the asking price of the instrument.

Concerts organiser Mr Sotheran said: "We could hire a piano from a commercial dealer but that would add to our costs and the quality would depend on which instrument was available each time we hired.

"We have this one-off opportunity to buy an instrument that is just perfect for our auditorium and which everyone loves to play."

The Almshouses spend £3,000 a year on piano hire. The Steinway is on the market for £8,000.