Milestone birthday and anniversary celebrations continue to attract publicity. Blaine Lake Gospel Chapel held a unique celebration Aug. 23 with a celebration honouring the church piano’s 100th birthday. Music is an integral aspect of church services whether its regular Sunday worship, weddings, funerals or gatherings, so to honour the focal musical instrument, a Heintzman upright grand, as a church family member was a most appropriate event.
More than 100 members of the church congregation and general public gathered in the Fellowship Hall to witness the celebration with a variety of piano solos and duets as well as vocal performances. Eleanor Epp, previous pastor’s wife and pianist, returned for the event and partook in the celebration by performing a duet with her daughter, Heather Sparrow, and a couple solo musical items. Current and greatly appreciated church pianist Darlene Harder performed a couple of piano solos as well as a few duet selections with her daughter Lorelle Willems. Pastor Kevin Koop entertained the guests with his harmonica and vocal selection.
There were vocal solos performed by Anna Sherstobetoff and Tanys Sherstobetoff. The blended harmonious voices of Andy Ciona and Win Loewen mesmerized the audience in a number of vocal duet selections.
Everyone was invited to partake in the fellowship following the event, which included fresh homemade pie and coffee.
The following information was gleaned from the Internet to provide a brief overview of the history of the Heintzman which has been referred to as the Steinway of Canadian pianos because this brand was widely considered to out stand and out perform any other Canadian brand.
Theodore August Heintzman immigrated to New York from Berlin in 1850 where he worked in the piano industry in both New York and Buffalo before relocating to Toronto in 1860. The Heintzman Company was founded in Toronto in 1866. From its early onset, the company built a reputation for quality product and by the turn of the century became the leader of the Canadian industry for quality grand and upright pianos.
