← Steinway.com ← Boston Pianos ← In the News ← Fall/Winter 2008 Boston Newsletter
The little idea that could
Music director Paul Wharram accompanies the McPhail Memorial Baptist Church choir on the Boston grand piano.
It was a little idea with great aspirations. Take a parishioner’s gift, develop a fund-raising program and in just two years, McPhail Memorial Baptist Church in downtown Ottawa would have its new sanctuary piano. What the congregation couldn’t imagine, however, is that a new Boston grand would be filling their church with music in just four short weeks.
While some might claim divine intervention, church music director Paul Wharram knows that the generosity of the church’s 100 members was directly responsible for the miracle that occurred almost faster than they could say, 5-foot-10-inch Boston grand piano.
According to Mr. Wharram, it all began when a former choir member offered a “sizeable” donation to the 134-year-old church. Instantly, he thought of acquiring a new church piano to replace the refurbished, apartment-sized upright piano that had overstayed its welcome. The church board agreed, sending Mr. Wharram and a selection committee on a quest to find out how a quality piano could be used for church services as well as community events at the church.
The small committee made the rounds of Ottawa’s piano stores at least twice, spending an hour at each store, listening and playing instruments.
It was at Lauzon Music Centre, the exclusive dealer for the family of Steinway-designed pianos in Ottawa and eastern Ontario, where they first heard the Boston piano.
“We were listening for the tone we knew would complement the intimate space in our sanctuary,” recalls Mr. Wharram, “and the Boston literally spoke to us. We knew it was the one by the way it responded.”
With that decision made, the only remaining task was paying for the piano.
Fortunately, Mr. Wharram – who also is deputy secretary general of the Canadian Red Cross – knows a bit about fund-raising. So, with his help, the committee developed a campaign strategy; produced a brochure; then distributed and mailed it, respectively, to current church members and former choir members who had moved away. The goal was to have the new piano by 2010.
Just four weeks later, the congregation not only had raised enough money to purchase the Boston GP-178 grand piano, but had enough left over to build a piano riser, complete with hardwood flooring. It amazed everyone – including Mr. Wharram, who has been music director for 21 years.
The Boston piano joins McPhail’s pipe organ, which has enjoyed a prominent position in the church since 1984. Now, Mr. Wharram uses both instruments during worship services to accompany the 20-member choir and for piano-organ duets.
The Boston grand piano complements the sanctuary “not only with the sound it produces,” he says, “but with its satin walnut finish that blends beautifully with the décor.”
Each year, Mr. Wharram directs one or two special concerts that attract a dozen or so additional singers for the performances, which, he says, provide people with fellowship and fun. And on the horizon? Chamber music concerts featuring the Boston piano as part of the church’s community outreach program.
Adding a quality grand piano helps Mr. Wharram expand his eclectic musical offerings that, he believes, are helping McPhail Memorial Baptist grow at a time when attendance at many small downtown churches is dwindling.
As Mr. Wharram explains it, “We have to do the best for God.”