Public pianos where anyone who wishes to can strike a chord and make beautiful or less than beautiful music are a fixture in large cities around the U.S. and the world, and now, Marshalltown has its very own on the west side of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 201 E. Church St.

Father Richard Graves led a brief unveiling and blessing ceremony on Wednesday afternoon with a crowd of about 20 people gathered, describing the piano as a vehicle for the arts in the community — something he feels it is important for the church to support.

“I love whimsy. I love creative things. I don’t know about you, but I’ve spent some of my life having an idea and thinking about all the bad things that can happen. So here we are, putting a wooden piano out in Midwestern weather. What could go wrong?” he jokingly asked. “And yet, we’re doing it. We believe in it for as long as it lasts.”

Graves then read a brief prepared introductory statement.

“We gather here in joy and thanksgiving to bless this street piano, a gift placed in the heart of our community, open to all. In a world often filled with noise and disconnection, this instrument offers something different: a moment of beauty, a place for creativity, and a shared invitation to joy. The Book of Psalms tells us to ‘make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth.’ Today, we extend that invitation beyond church walls — into this sidewalk, this square, and this neighborhood. This piano is not just an object — it is a means of grace, a vessel of human expression, and we pray it may become a source of comfort, surprise, laughter, and even healing for all who pass by,” he said. “In blessing this piano, we affirm that God is not confined to sanctuaries. Music can be sacred wherever it is shared — in concert halls, on street corners, or in the hands of a child playing her very first notes. So let us now dedicate and bless this instrument, not only for melodies and harmonies, but for the Spirit’s work in our midst.”

From there, Graves led those congregated in prayer and a responsive reading of Psalm 98 before delivering the official blessing.

“By the living Word of God, spoken through prophets, psalmists, and apostles, we acknowledge your power to touch human hearts. May this piano be for all who draw near a source of joy, comfort, and creative wonder. May its music break down walls of suspicion, lift the spirits of the weary, and beckon the restless to rest in your presence. Pour out your Holy Spirit upon this instrument. Bless its wood and metal, its hammers and strings, its black and white keys; that through its sound your name may be proclaimed. Where it is silent, quicken it with spontaneous song; where it is discordant, bring harmony; where it is neglected, stir new curiosity. Through this humble gift, may your church be built up, and your love go walking in the streets. All this we ask in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen,” he said. “And now, let the Street Piano play!”

Hudson Lourenco-Feld, who lives in Marshalltown with his husband Joe, came up with the idea and painted the piano despite what he called limited skills in the visual arts department. He played the first song of the day before making way for Amber Smitherman, Derek Shields and Nick Lindborg, who got the audience singing along with a cover of Journey’s classic rock anthem “Don’t Stop Believin’.”

Lourenco-Feld, a native of Brazil who has lived here since 2019, is a professional organist with several churches in Marshalltown and the Waterloo-Cedar Falls area and currently holds the title of Artist-in-Residence at St. Paul’s. He took inspiration from public pianos in places like the East Village in Des Moines.

“I was like ‘Why not have that here?’ Because we have extra pianos we don’t use. We can just customize them. I’m not a visual artist. I’m mostly a musician, but I just wanted to go ahead and make it fun,” he said. “Let’s just make it fun and cool for kids to stop by and try it.”

He hopes the piano will be part of a larger arts and culture revival in Marshalltown and bring vibrancy to an underserved area on the east side of downtown next to the church, which is one of the city’s oldest buildings.

“We need more of these social spaces where people can just come and hang out. It could be a nice square or something, and we’ve been trying to make this more of a livable area where people can chill,” Lourenco-Feld said.

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Contact Robert Maharry at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or

rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.