Local government, arts, community and business leaders have launched Pianos in the Parks, a summer campaign from July 17 to Aug. 17 that encourages Puget Sound residents to discover the more than 32,000 acres of City of Seattle and King County parks and open spaces through the power of music and art.
Pianos in the Parks features 20 artistically enhanced pianos created by Gage Academy of Art faculty and students, each placed in one of 15 Seattle city parks and open spaces and five King County Parks locations. Each piano, procured and tuned by Classic Pianos, is available for the public to play.
The Seattle locations include:
•Ballard Commons Park (5701 22nd Ave. N.W.)
•Cal Anderson Park(1635 11th Ave.)
•Denny Park (100 Dexter Ave. N.)
•Green Lake Park (7201 E. Green Lake Drive N.)
•Hing Hay Park (423 Maynard Ave. S.)
•Maple Leaf Reservoir (1020 N.E. 82nd St.)
•Othello Playground (4351 S. Othello St.)
•Rainier Beach Plaza (8825 Rainier Ave. S.)
•Sam Smith Park (1400 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S.)
•Seattle Center
•Volunteer Park (1247 15th Ave. E.)
Musicians of every level are encouraged to enter the Pianos in the Parks Facebook contest, in which they can upload a video of their performance of an original piece or music from the public domain for a chance to play at Concerts at the Mural presented by KEXP and Seattle Center on Aug. 22. Entries will be voted on by Facebook “likes,” with the top five most heavily “liked” videos being judged by a community panel.
Additionally, music partners KEXP, Seattle Symphony and City of Music — with support from the Seattle Music Commission — will serve up free activities for the public. The Seattle Symphony will host a weekly “Seattle Symphony Playdate” at Westlake Park, where the public can enjoy instrument-making, instrument exploration and more.
At the end of the campaign, all Pianos in the Parks pianos will be sold to the highest bidder in an online auction on the official website: www.pianosintheparks.com. Proceeds from the sale of these pianos will benefit Seattle Parks and Recreation, King County Parks, Seattle Symphony, KEXP and Gage Academy of Art.
To view special content, scheduled activities, participating parks and open spaces and full contest information, visit www.pianosintheparks.com.