Central Presbyterian Church in Tarentum offers classical concerts to 'build community'

Leaders at Central Presbyterian Church in Tarentum believe a new musical acquisition will hit a high note in creating community connections.

A Yamaha baby grand piano will make its debut during Sunday’s kickoff of the 10th annual Academy Concert Series, which is free to the public.

The concert will begin at 2 p.m. at the church along Allegheny Street.

“This is a landmark for us in several ways,” said Dave Rankin, the church’s business administrator.

Not only will it be used in this season’s professional concerts, but the piano will be offered to help people hone their own musical skills.

“Because an instrument like this was meant to be used, played and heard, we would like to explore reaching out to piano teachers and students who might be interested in a program that lets them use an instrument of this caliber,” Rankin said.

Church officials are exploring options that could include another concert series solely for organ and piano or offering it as a practice instrument to serious students who might lack access to a piano.

Central Presbyterian has built a legacy of opening its doors for community services. On any given day, it offers a low-cost clothes closet, free lunch, medical supplies and $1 breakfasts. Rankin said the mission is to remain a “neighborhood church.”

Concerts are offered in conjunction with Academy Concerts, organized by violinist Warren Davidson who said the music contributes to a healthy community.

“Humans need more than food and clothes and shelter,” he said. “They also need beauty.

“Great music regulates breathing, lowers blood pressure and also contributes to the health of the mind and the spirit.”

As musicians, Davidson said: “We love to share our art with anyone willing to listen. We feel the connection with anyone who wants to share the music with us.”

Joining him for this concert will be Steinway piano artist Yeeha Chiu and Academy String Quartet members Jorie Butler-Geyer and Leah Givelber on violin and Cecilia Caughman on cello.

Musicians will present an elegy by Ukrainian composer Vasyl Barvinsky and Bulgarian folk tunes written for the quartet by Pittsburgher Thomas Roncevic.

At the same time, Central Presbyterian will celebrate the return of its impressive stained glass windows, a section of which were removed and refurbished over the past year.

The project saw 11 windows scrubbed and rebuilt by Pittsburgh Stained Glass Studios in the West End for a cost of about $40,000. It is part of ongoing work to restore all 45 windows at the 110-year-old church.

“The peace of being inside the building and the beauty of the stained glass windows and sanctuary both contribute to actually hearing the music in this space seem serene,” Rankin said.

He believes the concerts, typically well attended, help to fill a void of cultural offerings in the area.

“Having this series right here in our hometown makes this music accessible for folks who want to hear it without traveling into the city,” Rankin said.