Courtesy Photo Suelyn Bartz rehearses for Sunday’s concert on the new Yamaha Digital Grand Piano at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Alpena. Bartz is one of seven talented local musicians who will perform at A Joyous Celebration of Musical Gifts at 2 p.m. Sunday at the church, 102 S. 2nd Ave., Alpena.

ALPENA — A Joyous Celebration of Musical Gifts will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday in celebration and dedication of a new Yamaha Digital Grand Piano in honor of the late Barbara Diamond, on what would have been her 99th birthday.

The event will be held at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 102 S. 2nd Ave., Alpena.

Musical performers include Jean Martin-Brown, Suelyn Bartz, Sandy Jarmuzewski, Ted Rockwell, Nick Stone, Kat Tomaszewski, and Julie Wood.

Each musician was asked to share their favorite piece of piano music. Musical pieces to be performed include classical, jazz, musical comedy, Broadway musical numbers, popular songs, religious, and a hymn sing-a-long.

When the church’s 124-year-old piano finally reached the point where it could not be tuned anymore, church leaders began discussing ideas and options for acquiring a new piano.

Then, siblings Ann Diamond and Blair Diamond decided to donate a new piano to the church in honor of their late mother, Barbara Diamond, a lifetime member of the First Congregational UCC, piano teacher for 40 years, pianist for the Alpena Civic Orchestra, and more.

“We decided that would be a great gift in memory of my mom,” Ann Diamond said. “Blair and I were both raised in that church. It has been a very important part of our lives, growing up.”

She said her mother helped instill a love of music in both of them, which they appreciate very much.

“She’s played piano in many churches,” Ann Diamond said. “She was always the life of the party. She grew up in a musical family.”

“Music was a big part of her life,” Blair Diamond said of his mother. “She was a piano teacher for 40 years. When we came home after school, there were always students practicing.”

Jay Kettler, a member of the First Congregational UCC piano committee, said the church is full of “joyous thankfulness” for the generous donation.

“It was totally unexpected,” he said. “It’s a brand-new instrument. A top-of-the-line Yamaha.”

Kettler said the new piano has been in use at the church since mid-December, so it was almost like a Christmas present to the church.

“Many of the folks in our church knew Barb (Diamond),” Kettler said. “She was just a wonderful presence for music and the arts.”

Barbara Diamond was born on March 23, 1926, and passed on Sept. 16, 2018, at the age of 92.

“It’s been five-and-a-half years, but the memories never go away,” Ann Diamond said. “She played up until a few years before she passed.”

When Ann Diamond first heard the Yamaha Digital Grand Piano being played, it brought tears to her eyes.

“It just sounded so beautiful,” she said.