Talent is everywhere, but what if you were told that your oil delivery man previously sang professionally in the opera or that your postal delivery lady who works in Norwich and Taftville had been a concert pianist? Then what if you learned they were married and living together in Salem?

Take a bow, Jackie and Ryan McKiernan.

Jackie McKiernan, who always had a dream to play the Grieg piano concerto in A minor with an orchestra, discovered her passion for the piano at the age 4 and began teaching piano in grade 12. She possesses a bachelor’s of music in piano performance from the Indiana School of Music and in 1996 was granted a full scholarship to the Hartt University School of Music.

While fully intending on earning a master’s in concert piano perfomance, McKiernan developed multiple sclerosis that affected her vision and her hand. She was forced to change her focus from concert piano performance to piano accompaniment, and she toured the world as concert obligato with the renowned traveling theater called the American Magic-Lantern Theater.

During her 10-year adventure, McKiernan visited Poland, Canada, Britain, Mexico and many other countries. She has performed in all 50 states.

McKiernan made the transition from concert piano performance to her postal delivery job after having three children and getting laid off as a music teacher in the Waterbury, Willimantic and Hartford public schools systems.

McKiernan is satisfied with delivering mail for now because it is performing a service that people need.

“I will never stop being a musician,” she vowed.

The music talent in McKiernan’s family extends to her father, who was concertmaster for the Cleveland Philharmonic, and concertmaster to the Trijillo Symphony in his native Peru.

McKiernan’s husband, Ryan, is a professional opera singer who has performed roles in “Madame Butterfly,” “Kiss Me Kate” and “Tales of Hoffmann” with the now-defunct Connecticut Opera in Hartford. His last concert occurred in 2007, and he has been delivering oil with General Oil in Waterford for the last five years.

Jackie McKiernan, on the other hand, still teaches and currently has 10 students.

All of the McKiernan children are musically inclined: their 11-year-old son plays the trumpet and sings; their 15-year-old daughter plays the guitar, the flute, and sings; and their 13-year-old daughter is a violinist.

The McKiernan family celebrates the holiday with jubilant music and praise. Jackie pounds on her Mason and Hamlin piano while her dad fiddles on his 1730 Ambroise de Cambie violin. Ryan lends his voice to add to the merriment of the occasion. They gather to sing and play Beethoven’s Romances, Czardas by Vittorio Monti, and Schubert’s “Ave Maria.”

Despite physical and economic obstacles, Jackie McKiernan continues to pursue her dream.

“I did not let them allow me to end my love of music,” she said.

The love of music is now present in her children and in people of all ages.

“The love of music is in the hearts of those I have helped through the piano and voice,” she said. “That is my greatest achievement.”

Lisa Shasha lives in Norwich.