Hitting the right note: 2 new pianos on the way for Cree students

Young Cree musicians in the James Bay region of Quebec will be getting two new pianos to play aftervideos of them practising sparked a fundraising campaign.

"I can't wait to play it," said XavierIserhoff, 13, who learned to play piano with the help ofYouTubeand an out-of-tune piano in the student lounge at his local high school inChisasibi, Que. "This one's a little too old."

Iserhoffsaid he wants to continue to practise and improve.

"I want to inspire people. I want to show people I have talent," said Iserhoff.

The fundraising campaign, which has raised close to $5,000so far, was launched after videos of Iserhoff and his cousin, Mason Pepabano, playing the piano went viral before Christmas.

"The youth have amazing talent playing instruments," said Leslie Herodier, who works as a re-adaptation officer at the James Bay Eeyou School in Chisasibi (JBES) and first posted the videos of Iserhoff and Pepabano playing.

Iserhoff and Pepabano practice on old piano

6 years ago

Duration 2:16

Videos of Xavier Iserhoff and his cousin Mason Pepabano were viewed more than 10 thousand times and launched fundraising efforts to get them a new piano.

Herodier said the videos were viewed more than 10,000times.

"I did not expect to see a lot of views of the videos," he said. With the help of the local recreation department, he started fundraising to get better instruments for the youth to play.

Roy Neacappo, recreation co-ordinator for the Cree Nation of Chisasibi, said it was important to him to make sure the fundraising was successful.

"They are very talented," said Neacappo. "These are kids that don't play sports."

Close to $2,500was raised at a local volleyball tournament and an arts exhibition before Christmas and then was matched byJBESschool.

The money will go toward buying a new piano this spring.

A second piano is also being donated by a friend ofNeacappo'sand will be shipped from the south shore of Montreal.