Many hands at pianos provide grand finale to Charleston's 38th Dogwood-Azalea Festival

CHARLESTON -- It's not every day you get to see 14 pianists playing on seven pianos, which is why anyone who missed "Piano Praise" performances Saturday may want to consider catching the final show today.

"It's a very unusual sound, and to hear that many pianos and then put the pipe organ with it, it's perfectly gorgeous," said pianist Betty Copper Hearnes, who plays in the event.

In conjunction with the 38th Annual Dogwood-Azalea Festival, pianists of the First Baptist Church of Charleston will present their 10th annual "Piano Praise" at 3:30 p.m. today in the church sanctuary.

As many 1,200 people have come out to listen -- and watch -- the pianists simultaneously play sacred and secular music on five grand and two upright pianos in addition to the church's pipe organ during the finale.

"Many people who come aren't pianists, they just want to hear that many pianos," Hearnes said.

Many festival attendees will come in off the street to listen to the free concert, said Terry A. Parker, who is a primary concert player in the event.

"They get in and they get captivated that so many people are at these pianos, and the second part comes on, and two people are on a piano, and they're hooked," Parker said.

The church seats between 400 and 450 but with folding chairs set up as many as 600 people have fit in the church for a performance, Parker said.

"Just come as you are -- in your shorts, jeans, dressed up or whatever. I think it will be experience you won't forget," Parker said. "It may make you want to get out your old book and start playing again -- and I hope it does."

The concert is broken into three sections. The first section includes seven pianists on the seven pianos. Then in the second section, the primary concert player teams up with a playing partner so four hands are on the piano at one time.

"It's quite fun (with two on a piano) and takes some concentration," Parker said. "It gets comical when you forget who's supposed to turn the page and then you both turn the page."

In the middle of the show, the audience also has an opportunity to sing "God Bless America."

During the last section of the concert, it goes back to one person at the piano and the church's pipe organ is added to the performance, Parker said.

"They can expect to hear absolutely gorgeous music, and it's very lifting music," Hearnes said. "It's a lift for you to come to the concert."

Beginning in February, the pianists practice one night a week and then go to two nights a week. During festival week, they practice every night.

"We started (the 'Piano Praise') one year at Christmas and decided to do it in the spring, too," Parker recalled about the origin of the event.

At one time, the event featured eight pianos and 16 players, Parker said.

"Without Betty Hearnes' driving force, it would be difficult (to do the show) because she plans the programming and gets everything ready," Parker said. While players have a connection to the church, those who do play are mixture of people from the community, Parker said. From a pharmacist to funeral professionals to school teachers, a wide range of people of all levels play, he said.

"To be a small, rural town, we're very fortunate to have two or three trained church organists and as many skilled pianists as we do," Parker said.

In addition to Parker and Hearnes, pianists include: Meekee Graham, Deidre Ellis Reed, Melissa DeLine Graham, Karen Ellis Brown, Sallie Brown Goodin, Melissa J. Graham Reynolds, Tom Graham, Mary K. McMikle Branum, Sallee Fletcher Forrest, Chris Smith, Kerry Davis and Jackie Huffman.

"It's something that we all look forward to ... and we have fun with it," Parker said.

Hearnes said the pianists will keep on playing as long as there's a demand. "When there's nobody listening, we won't be playing," Hearnes said.