Dover man restoring baby grand for church’s Music Mission

A nearly century-old piano — abandoned by another congregation — has found a new life, home and mission at Boonton United Methodist Church.

The circa 1920 Behning & Sons baby grand also has a new name, Hope, and soon will become a centerpiece of the church’s growing music mission.

The nonprofit Music Mission is just one part of the music ministry at Boonton United Methodist, which has a history of embracing the power and passion of music to spread the good word. In addition to its pride band and adult choir, the church hosts open-mic nights on the third Friday of every month, inviting anyone to sing, play, dance, recite poetry or tell jokes.

The Music Mission, though, is a special program of the church designed to raise funds for the United Methodist Church of Greater New Jersey Future with Hope Fund, which is challenging congregations over the next three years to raise funds for Hurricane Sandy Relief, the global initiative “Imagine No Malaria” and local charity causes.

The next Music Mission event on April 11 boasts a lineup of headline musicians that includes one local piano legend as well as a member of the Rock Hall of Fame, and that is where the church is hoping Hope will step in and help make the night a little more special.

“I would like the congregation to call the piano Hope, and I hope she will help us raise funds for our three charities and mission work within our community,” said church finance chairperson Annette Thurkauf.

Hope came to the church through Dave Eggleston, a piano restorer in Dover whose mother is a long-time member at Boonton United Methodist. He bought the piano, which was in a sorry state, about 10 years ago from a customer who said he rescued it from another church that literally had kicked it to the curb.

“My mom Pauline, is a member of the church,” Eggleston said. “In 2012, my brother passed away. A month after his death, we wanted to have a memorial service here. That’s when I met the director of the Music Mission, Bob Gustafson. Further on down the line, he was saying it would be nice to have a baby grand at the church for doing recitals. And I remembered I had this. It was sitting back on its side, disassembled.”

The first Music Mission events went fine, according to Eggleston, but with plans to bring in piano virtuoso Rio Clemente — a regional legend who has played with Grammy winners and at the White House on the national stage — it was time for 88 upgraded keys.

The stakes got higher when the April 11 benefit bill grew to include Eddie Brigati, a founding member and one of the golden voices of the Young Rascals, and his wife, singer Susan Lovell-Brigati, a celebrated vocalist in her own right and a leader in the church chorus.

“This is going to be an amazing show,” said Joni Forte-Lewin, production supervisor for the Music Mission and a partner-producer with Showplace Music Productions in Dover. “Rio is known as the Bishop of Jazz, and he’s the music director at the Methodist church in Randolph. “He’s a great friend and is really stepping up for us. Eddie and Susan love him, and when Eddie found out Rio was playing, he stepped in, too.”

The impressive concert lineup is rounded out by vocalist and syndicated radio host Lise Avery, backed by renowned artists Russ Kassoff and Jay Leonhart on piano and bass.

“Lise Avery is very well-known internationally,” Forte-Lewin said. “Russ used to play guitar with Frank Sinatra and was a music director for Liza Minelli. Jay played with Mel Torme and Les Paul. These guys aren’t kidding around. It’s an amazing lineup for this kind of thing.”

Eggleston says Hope will be up to the challenge of supporting such an all-star group of musicians.

“It’s from the time when piano manufacturing in the United States was at its peak,” said Eggleston, who shares a Basset Highway shop with Dave Thompson Piano Works. “This is a solidly built piano. Most of the manufacturers then were emulating and competing with Steinway. They were putting out high-quality pianos. Very responsive action, and a nice feel. It will have a very American sound, early 20th century, with a warmer, fuzzier tone.”

Eggleston said he was unable to donate the piano, but sold it to the mission at cost and is doing the restoration work at cost. He would not estimate the total bill, but said the restoration of a quality baby grand can run up to $12,000.

The church is seeking donations for the restoration. To donate, visit TheMusicMission.org and click on “Donate,” or mail a donation check (payable to Boonton United Methodist Church) to 626 Lathrop Avenue, Boonton, NJ 07005 (noting “Hope” within the mailing).

For more information about the April 11 concert, call 973-334-8654.

Staff Writer William Westhoven: 973-428-6627; wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com.