SARASOTA – An anonymous donor in Sarasota is gifting a baby grand piano to a historic church in Clarksdale, Mississippi.
“Our church really is steeped very heavily in music and ministry and the civil rights movement in which song was a great part of that and this helps us to continue our community wide ministry,” said Pastor of First Baptist Church in Mississippi and Architect, Juan Self.
Pastor, Juan Self leads the 124-year-old First Baptist Church in Clarksdale, Mississippi.
“We were really the hub of the civil rights movement in the North West Mississippi area, such speakers as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jackie Robinson spoke there, and we hosted one of the organizational meetings for the Southern Christian Leadership conferences, Dr. King spoke at that as well,” said Pastor Self.
Self, who is also an architect, is designing Sarasota’s African American Cultural Center, when learning about the piano from the organizations president, he knew it would be a perfect fit.
“It made me feel really good that I could be in the mix making sure that this piano would get to the right place where it would be appreciated, loved and used,” said President of Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition, Vickie Oldham.
The black Baldwin baby grand will become the crown jewel of the sanctuary, joining a digital piano and pipe organ at First Baptist.
“This is a spark to our congregation and our neighborhood to really reignite that community wide music events, spoken word and really bring young people to the church and really serve the community in a more profound way,” said Pastor Self.
The baby grand is headed to Clarksdale Mississippi this afternoon.
