Echuca-Moama Uniting Church will host a concert to welcome its latest addition to the church.
The church’s newly acquired grand piano will take centre stage in the performance, affectionately titled ‘Welcome our Grand Piano’.
The event will be held on Sunday, April 14 at 2pm in the Echuca Uniting Church.
The church has secured a solid line-up for the day, mixing local choir Bella A'Capella with Melbourne-based professional accompanist Daniel McNicol and promising young talents Daniel Sinfield and Liam Whitbourn from the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music.
The performance will feature music from well-known classical composers, including Chopin, Puccini, Brahms, Verdi, Beethoven, Donizetti, Gershwin, and Debussy.
It will also include traditional songs from countries such as Ukraine, New Zealand and Ireland.
Event organiser Anne Peace highlighted her desire to include a range of performances in the program and to give opportunities to local artists and visitors.
“For this year, we have tried to put variety into our program,” she said.
“The Bella A'Capella choir rehearses in our church, so we wanted to allow our locals to perform.
“They’ll open and close the program.”
Mr McNicol, an accomplished pianist based in Melbourne, has performed worldwide and on live broadcasts for ABC Classic FM.
Mr McNicol is originally from Echuca, and his family worshipped at the Echuca-Moama Uniting Church while he was growing up.
Ms Peace said she is thrilled to be able to have him perform to welcome its new grand piano.
“David Nichol grew up in this church, his family worshipped here, and he’s stayed connected to us,” she said.
“It’s wonderful, and I know David will adore playing here.
"It means that the church is alive, it’s a church for the community, and it makes it live and breathe rather than be closed up and cold.”
Ms Peace expressed her joy about putting the concert on for the community and about the power of music bringing people together.
“These performances are our gift to the community, and it is only a donation to attend, so that’ll be good,” she said.
“It’s been wonderful planning the event, and I know everyone is really excited to hear all of the performers and our new grand piano.”