Church grand piano worth £20,000 used to train musicians
A grand piano worth more than £20,000 that has taken its place in a parish church will be used to help train aspiring musicians.
The seven-foot six-inch Yamaha C7 concert grand piano will fill St Mary's Church in Bridgnorth with music during its weekly services.
The £21,500 instrument, which was delivered in April, will also be used by school pupils and concert pianists, to accompany major choral works, and will be used as a solo recital instrument for symphony orchestras.
The church's former 'Bluthner' grand piano, built in 1899, had been showing signs of wear and deterioration.
Dr John Turnock, musical director at the church, set out in November to secure grant aid from the Arts Council and to raise further funds.
A music trust has also been set up teach new talent, who will be able to use a top-of-range instrument on a regular basis.
Dr Turnock said: "The church had successfully gained £14,950 in March and, along with money raised by the concert committee, we managed to buy the piano.
"The new piano will allow us to create a new community dynamic to encourage and develop aspiring young musicians.
"This new music trust intends to develop and encourage pupils and adults to give live performances on a very high quality grand piano in a top class venue in Bridgnorth.
"There is currently no high quality piano available for performers or audiences within a 15 mile radius so a unique opportunity has arisen to work with professional pianists and students from Birmingham Conservatoire.
"Youngsters at schools, colleges and the wider community will be given the opportunity to practice and enhance their skills."
Dr Turnock said the trust also hoped to increase the number of concerts and musical events held in the church.
He said professional pianists and other musicians would also be attracted to St Mary's use the new piano.
"We intend to develop a new approach to training by encouraging pupils at grade eight to give performances and to work with Birmingham Conservatoire students to help their practice and skills," he said.
"We will engage professional pianists and those in training to play in and promote monthly lunchtime recitals.
"The replacement piano will ensure we reach different audiences including adults who enjoy classical, jazz and modern piano recitals.
