OLD ST. VINCENT'S CHURCH OBTAINS STEINWAY PIANO FOR CONCERT PERFORMANCES

When someone wants to give a small recital in Cape Girardeau, Old St. Vincent's Church is the natural site because of its fine acoustics and beautiful interior.

Until now, the church has had one drawback as a performance venue -- no piano. When one was needed, a piano was hauled down from the university.

But the Old St. Vincent's Church Committee has recently obtained a six-year-old model B Steinway grand piano.

The piano will be played for the first time in concert Monday when James Sifferman, associate professor of music at Southeast Missouri State University, gives an 8 p.m. recital.

Sifferman said the church committee had agreed to put up a certain amount of money toward purchasing a piano when he received an unexpected call from someone who knew he was looking for one.

The seller, who lives in Kansas City, agreed to accept a portion of the price as a tax deduction, Sifferman said.

"This is good for the university, for the community at large and for the music faculty," he said.