Mariet Bogaerts-Tholen donated
her Bösendorfer grand piano
'Music is the common thread in my life. I come from a family of seven children. My parents did everything they could to get us all into music lessons. I actually wanted to take violin lessons, but because my sisters had just stopped playing the piano, my father thought it would be a better idea to start with that.'
‘I played at the opening of the very first music school in the Netherlands, in Geleen. After that, I was allowed to go to the conservatory. However, I preferred to study medicine and become a tropical doctor. Later, I studied Law and I worked as a lawyer at our own law firm. For the last thirteen years, I've been a judge, a very rewarding profession.’
‘“Theinstrument has found awonderfulhome”’
‘Music remained important to me, and I always kept playing the piano. I took lessons from a famous pianist, Cecile de Grijs, for over thirty years. I loved it so much. Because my husband and I were captivated by the warm, unique sound of a Bösendorfer, we went to Vienna to find one. I had so much fun with that beautiful instrument. In recent years, rheumatism prevented me from playing. So I donated the piano to The Netherlands Musical Instruments Foundation. The instrument has found a wonderful home. The Ommen and Surrounding Area String Quartets Foundation uses the grand piano for chamber music concerts. Now more people can play the Bösendorfer. I'm very happy about that. And I'm sure my husband, who passed away five years ago, would agree with me.’
Check out the Bösendorfer