There are grand plans at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, or at least baby grand plans.
The church has been offered a rare opportunity to own a baby grand piano, a luxury musical item, but at such a compelling price the congregation refused to close the lid on the chance. A similar piano would sell for $65,000 to $70,000 off the showroom floor but a local supporter has offered it to the church for $22,000 ($12,00 next year and $10,000 up front).
"The piano belongs to Florli Nemeth, a longtime piano teacher in town, but she is moving to Richmond to start up a new church," said OSLC pastor Fleming Blishen. "She can't bring it with her, and that is a difficult thing for her to bear, so she wanted it to go to a good home, a place where it would be used for worship and appreciated by the community. The offer to purchase was made to us, and there was an overwhelming majority vote in favour of this purchase."
The piano's owner, Florli Nemeth, said she was happy about this new chapter of the piano's history. The piano had been a gift to her from her late husband, and parting with it now was an emotional decision but it would be in good hands - many good hands.
The church doesn't simply have $10,000 sitting in a box waiting for piano sales. A fundraising campaign is now underway, and a blitz challenge has been issued by one anonymous donor. The donor pledged to give $1,000 if the congregation and community could come up with the balance of the $10,000 by the end of Friday. Since the throw-down was made, $3,000 has been gathered.
"It's very exciting. This piano is in pristine condition, phenomenal condition," Blishen said.
While OSLC music director Karla Paciejewski is probably the happiest about the pending transaction, many others will benefit as well.
"We have many user groups from the community use our space as well," said Blishen. "The Nove Voce choir and other choirs work out of here, the music festival uses our church each year, and we want to give them the best possible space to use. The piano would be a gift we give to the community as well."
Anyone wishing to contribute to the fundraising goal, and trigger the additional $1,000 can do so by contacting Our Saviour's Lutheran Church.
