Castine church music series raises money for piano

CASTINE – The music drifts across the common.

It’s Wednesday and it’s time for the Summer Music Cafe at the Castine Unitarian Church.

Each Wednesday in August, the church is running a concert and cafe offering music followed by coffee, cake, cookies and punch, along with a chance to chat with the musicians.

“I got the idea from a friend who had done it in another town,” said Mary Sochacki, the music director at the church who has organized the cafe programs. “We thought August would be a good time. It’s the height of the season, and of course, this year, there are five Wednesdays in August. ”

The programs have been varied. Earlier programs have tended to be classical, but the last concert in the series will be quite different. On Aug. 29, Steve Walk, an English professor at Maine Maritime Academy, will perform original songs and accompany himself on guitar.

With little publicity, the concerts have turned out to be popular, attracting about 20 or so audience members each week. That’s raised about $400 for the piano fund so far, Sochacki said.

The church hopes to replace its existing baby grand piano with a larger instrument. Sochacki said the project was conceived as a community effort project.

“This is the one place in town that has space for a piano like this,” she said. “It’s something we can bring to the whole town.”

The Castine Arts Association has contributed to the fund, and other events have raised funds for the new piano, she said.

The performance will take place at 3 p.m. on Wednesday in the church sanctuary, with the cafe in the parish house. Suggested donations are $5.