Sisterhood of the Traveling Piano

by Kari Litscher

Imagine coming face to face with a friend you haven’t seen in over 60 years. That’s what happened to Mary Gene (Antonilla) Kinney, BVM when she was reunited with a beloved piano she had years ago.

The Backstory
Before the establishment of the BVM Fine Arts Commission in the early 1960s, music teachers faced a daunting challenge: ensuring the upkeep of the school piano. While the principal believed the pastor should cover the costs, given the extensive musical responsibilities shouldered by  the music teacher, the pastor argued that the burden should fall on the community, as they benefited financially from music lessons.

In those years, music teachers—especially piano teachers—played a crucial role in the financial support of the congregation. When parishes  could not afford a full salary for the sisters teaching at the parish school, money from piano lessons often filled the gaps in the budget.

A Harmonious Initiative
The BVM Fine Arts Commission, under the guidance of Virginia (Matilde) Gaume, BVM heralded something new. Mary Gene recalls, “One of the first actions she took was to get permission from the congregation for the music teachers to be able to put a quarter from every music lesson
into a special fund that could be used for expenses such as piano tuning and replacement.” Mary Gene eagerly added a quarter from each of her lessons.

Resonating Success
Upon her arrival at Petaluma in 1964, Mary Gene found the groundwork already laid by her predecessor. “Over time,” she notes, “the fund  grew until I was able to purchase a new piano, when the local music store went out of business and had a sale.”

Years later, as the BVMs prepared to depart St. Vincent’s grade school, Mary Gene took steps to ensure the piano remained within the BVM
Community’s care. “I contacted the (BVM) Regional Representative and told her that the piano in the grade school music room belonged to the
BVM Community, not the school, and I really hoped the community would claim it,” she recalls. “Life went on and I thought no more about the piano . . . ”

The piano eventually made it to St. Philip Convent in San Francisco and then on to St. Michael Convent in Daly City. When it closed, Bette  Esther Mary) Gambonini, BVM was asked if she wanted it. The piano embarked on a journey alongside her, traveling to various California  locations including Gilroy, San Jose, and Sunnyvale, before eventually finding its new home at Mount Carmel Bluffs (MCB) in Dubuque, Iowa.

“It took a lot of quarters to purchase that piano . . .
to my knowledge, it is the only Community piano
bought with quarters.” —Mary Gene Kinney, BVM

A Reprise
Mary Gene, also now living at MCB, recalls, “One evening, someone at the supper table mentioned that Bette inherited the Petaluma piano, and I said ‘Well, I need to go see it!’” A few nights later, conversation continued among the sisters. BVM President LaDonna Manternach  exclaimed, “Oh, I loved that piano. I had it at St. Michael!”

Not long after, Bette saw Mary Gene playing a piano in the Atrium at MCB. Bette shares, “I went over to talk to her and in the conversation  mentioned that I had a piano in my apartment that I thought was originally from the St. Vincent convent in Petaluma.” Bette invited Mary Gene  up to her apartment.

Recalling the reunion, Bette delights, “She was so excited to see the piano. She sat at the piano and played . . .” After awhile, Mary Gene and  Bette sat together and performed Chopsticks.

The story of the traveling Petaluma piano is now complete. Bette says, “I was excited to be able to house the piano and to play it from Gilroy to
MCB. It is a lovely piano, providing me many opportunities to keep up my playing and entertaining those above and below my apartment.”

This story was featured in:

SPRING 2024: BVMs on the Run Toward Justice

If you would like to receive Salt, contact the Office of Development for a complimentary subscription at development@bvmsisters.org or 563-585-2864.