Keys to kindness

An unexpected bond between a customer and an employee at the Lakewinds Food Co-op in Chanhassen blossomed into a heartwarming story of generosity and music, culminating in a remarkable gift.

Musician Lara Bolton began shopping at Lakewinds after moving from St. Paul to Eden Prairie in 2020. It was there that she met Idriss Elberkraoui, who works in housekeeping and customer service at the grocery store.

“We struck up a conversation many times,” Bolton said. “He talked to a lot of people and was friends with everybody. He’s always helping somebody, me included.”

The dream of a piano

During one of these conversations, Elberkraoui shared with Bolton that he had always wanted to become a pianist.

“I had mentioned that I’m a pianist, and he wanted to learn how to play the piano,” she said.

Elberkraoui loves listening to Mozart and other classical composers while driving or working around the house. He says orchestral musicians have always fascinated him.

“You can see different instruments, and everybody is reading the notes,” Elberkraoui said. “If you notice, most of them turn the page at the same time. Then I became attracted to learning how to read music.”

Elberkraoui first asked Bolton if she knew of a good beginner’s book for learning piano. “I just decided to buy it for him,” she said. He appreciated the book but mentioned that he didn’t have a piano.

That prompted Bolton to consider how she could help him fulfill his dream.

“And so for a long time, I had been thinking, ‘Oh, how can I help connect me being a pianist?’ It just stuck in my head,” she said. “That’s how I started, and that was a couple of years ago. Then I decided to do a GoFundMe after so long. I just wanted to see what would happen.”

Bolton posted the GoFundMe fundraiser on May 26 with a photo of her and Elberkraoui. It stated: “This is Idriss. He works at our regular grocery store. He is always helping everyone – taking out their groceries, talking to families, giving fresh fruit to kids who want a snack. In the couple of years that I’ve known him, we have struck up many conversations. I learned that he has a big family and also holds down three jobs. I also learned that he is dreaming to learn the piano.”

Overnight fundraising success

Bolton aimed to raise $500 through the GoFundMe page to purchase a Yamaha P-143 electric piano. Elberkraoui told her he wanted an electric piano, not a full-size one, to better fit his home. She mentioned this to her husband, Brandon Smith, a piano technician at Schmitt Music, who “comes across pianos a lot.”

She said the fundraiser exceeded the donation goal overnight.

In total, $720 was raised from 22 donations, which allowed for the purchase of not only the piano but also a bench, a stand, and headphones. The next day, she brought the piano to Lakewinds and surprised Elberkraoui.

Bolton said she was more than happy to help.

“I’ve been doing music since I was 4,” she said. “It’s how I move through the world. It kind of chose me. To be able to help connect whoever I can with the power of music is wonderful.”

For Elberkraoui, a longtime Chanhassen resident originally from Morocco, this gift was more than just an instrument; it was a lifelong dream realized.

He remembers being a 16-year-old on a school trip to Paris. “I saw a piano, and I ran and started playing it,” he said. “Whenever I see a piano, I try to play and see which fingers I should use.”

Lessons in kindness

Bolton’s act of kindness didn’t stop with the piano. She also promised Elberkraoui piano lessons upon her return in the fall from a stint as head of vocal arts at The Florentine Opera Company in Milwaukee.

“I’ll teach him which finger goes on which key,” she said.

Eager to learn, Elberkraoui has already started exploring the piano set up in his living room. His wife and two sons, ages 25 and 20, have also tried to play. He wants to learn how to play a song.

“I’m sure she can help with that,” he said. “Not everyone has an impact on the community and the people around them. Life in the U.S. is very busy; people are working longer hours and don’t have that extra time. I know she is very busy with her husband, yet she took the time and initiative to talk to her friends, come up with funding to buy a piano, and then deliver it to me here, which is very nice.”

Connecting through music

Bolton, with an extensive background in music, has worked with opera companies nationwide and has been involved in many musical projects, particularly with opera singers. Her website has more about her work.

Most of the contributions to the GoFundMe campaign came from Bolton’s musician friends across the country. She said that if more donations come in, she knows others who could benefit from music resources.

“I have never done this before,” Bolton said of setting up the GoFundMe campaign. “But I’ve always wanted to. I feel like we’re in a time of great transition. It’s important to connect to those really deep, deep-seated things and help our communities connect to them.”

She emphasized that musicians love sharing the gift of music.

“Thank you for doing that,” Elberkraoui said. “God bless you and your friends.”