A 1921 Steinway baby grand piano found a new home this week inside South Britain Congregational Church, arriving Tuesday morning following a donation from two local residents.
The century-old instrument was donated by Southbury residents Sherryl and John Facey, who are relocating to Arizona this month after living in town for the last three years. As the couple ruled out transporting the piano across the country, they began looking for local organizations that could benefit from its use.
Less than a month ago, South Britain Congregational’s Music Director, Dennis Li, sat down to inspect and play the baby grand piano, finding it in “fantastic” condition and in tune with the church’s mission.
The church has received numerous donation requests in the past, Li says, and usually ends up rejecting piano donations that are in poor condition or because of the congregation’s own space limitations.
“But this time around, when I heard it was a Steinway piano, of course, that’s something you can’t really pass up,” Li said.
Before Tuesday, the piano had been in Sherryl Facey’s family for 86 years.
Facey said her grandmother purchased the Steinway for her mother when she was just 10 years old, and it remained a constant presence in the family for decades.
“My mom played piano extensively – beautifully,” said Facey. “She never was professional, but she played a lot of classical music.”
Growing up, classical music filled the house, with Facey and her siblings all taking piano lessons when they were younger. Facey said her mother even hand-stitched the needlepoint bench cover herself.
The donation hit just the right note for Facey, now knowing that the piano will continue its life in an already historic local setting, with a new audience.
“I feel awesome that it’s going to be played again, and people are going to enjoy the music that they hear from that piano,” said Facey.
The pre-war Steinway Model M baby grand piano has a unique sound and history, Li says.
Steinway & Sons pianos are known for their craftsmanship, dating back to 1880. Older models, like this one, were built largely by hand in a process that could take up to a year.
Li says it’s both the sound and craftsmanship behind a Steinway that make them top-of-the-line pianos.
“The color of the sound is much different than any other piano,” said Li. “The color of the sound is what gives it life and what gives it personality.”
“A Steinway has this rounded, darker, deeper kind of personality to it,” he added, noting the heaviness of the keys combined with the care and craftsmanship before a time of automation.
The time it took from idea to delivery took about three weeks, a timeline Li described as a “miracle”, especially during the holiday season.
The piano was delivered Tuesday morning and placed where two pews once stood inside the sanctuary.
Going forward, the Steinway will be used during the church’s monthly praise services and future concerts, including the annual December flute and piano concert led by Li and his mother, Jenny Li.
“Hopefully, this also brings us more opportunities to host more concerts,” said Li.
The South Britain Congregational Church is located at 693 South Britain Road, where the piano will now be heard during services and community events for years to come.
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