Many a recital by aspiring young musicians has been played on the grand piano that now graces the front area of The Next Picture Show community fine arts center.

Donated by the family of Gertrude “Trudy” Bain, who taught piano for many years in the Rochelle area, the instrument will continue to be played for the enjoyment of many at the gallery.

“We couldn’t think of a better place for it,” said Gretchen Bain, Trudy’s daughter. “The Next Picture Show is a wonderful place, and this is a beautiful old piano. My mother and I are so delighted it has found a home there.”

The piano was dedicated at a reception from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 16 at The Next Picture Show.

Trudy Bain, now 97, has many wonderful memories of the piano, which has a rich history. Trudy bought it from Helen Phelps, who also was a piano teacher in Rochelle. Gretchen took lessons from Phelps and remembers the grand piano was special.

“When we took lessons from Helen, we could only use the upright piano in her house. When recital time came and our parents were there to listen, she would open the doors to the room where the grand piano was, and we’d use it for the recitals,” she said. Gretchen never dreamed that the piano would one day be in her house.

She remembers the year her mother bought the piano.

“I was home for the summer. I hadn’t played in a while. I went to the piano and sat down and played a recital piece, and I haven’t been able to do it since,” she said. “There are a lot of ghosts in that piano. Every kid who took piano lessons in the late ’40s and ’50s and ‘60s. could probably sit down and play a piece.”

Her mother has a favorite memory about one little boy who was a very talented pianist. He was only about four-years-old, and when he sat on the bench, his feet didn’t even come close to touching the floor.

“She can still see that cute little boy sitting there with his short little legs sticking straight out,” Gretchen said.

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“We are so pleased to have this wonderful instrument in our gallery,” said Bonnie Kime, executive director of The Next Picture Show. “We plan to get a lot of use from it with recitals and at our other events. We are grateful to the Bain family for this gift. Trudy had an impact on many people in the area with her teaching. This piano is quite a legacy.”

Trudy devoted her life to teaching children to play the piano. A graduate from Northwestern University with a music major, she was a classical music pianist. She also played the organ in her church.

The family has long been a supporter of the arts. Interestingly, Gretchen’s great grandfather established the Bain Opera House in Rochelle. The building is no longer there, but in its heyday it attracted patrons from Chicago who would ride the train in to see performances there.