CHURCHES & SYNAGOGUESSCHOOLSCULTURAL ARTS VENUESALL STEINWAY VENUES

Truro Episcopal Church, Fairfax, VA
Steinway & Sons, Model B

Truro Episcopal Church in Fairfax, Virginia has a wonderfully rich and diverse ministry in music and the arts, including choral opportunities for children and adults, hand bells, liturgical dance and instrumentalists. In a recent survey, a majority of parishioners identified the worship experience at Truro as their primary motivation in making it their church home.

Truro has adopted a music style of incorporating both classical and contemporary music into worship services. We emphasize the historical music which connects us with the church and faith of centuries past as well as gospel and praise music which inject freshness and vitality and point us to the renewing work of the Holy Spirit in the 21st Century.

The aging sanctuary grand piano, having been heavily played for years, was becoming increasingly unsatisfactory both in sound quality and touch. While organ is indispensable in hymnody, much of the contemporary genre as well as choral music are more suited to piano accompaniment.

Recognizing our need for a new instrument, a piano committee was formed to investigate alternatives for replacement. Our Jordan Kitt's representative, Janet Adams Laird, helped us identify the Steinway Model B as the ideal piano for our situation. Bringing it before the church leadership for consideration, we made our presentations and gained approval for the purchase, first from the finance committee and then the church vestry, emphasizing the investment in quality that is a Steinway.

Next, we experienced the wonderful joy of choosing our new Steinway. The Piano Committee independently played a number of fine warehouse instruments and selected the same one as our first choice favorite. We all sensed the hand of God at work in our midst.

The new piano's arrival prompted a rearrangement of piano and orchestra in the altar area. The piano, now in a place of greater prominence, is situated in such a way that the lid projects the sound directly out towards the congregation and minimizes the need for sound amplification.

The first Sunday with our new Steinway, several piano solos as well as piano and voice duets permitted the congregation to hear and enjoy its virtues. Numerous congregants remarked upon the gorgeous tone of the Steinway. The pianists all appreciated the fine touch and ease with which it permitted expressive playing. The experience was exhilarating. To God be the Glory. ~ Written by Stuart Carson head of the piano committee