Contributed Photo: Connie Wible of Musical Minds Studio & students with “Monster Piano”

Last week, two playfully designed pianos were placed in Mercer Island parks as part of the greater Seattle-area Pianos in the Park program. The two pianos – “Monster Piano” in Luther Burbank Park and “Crowing Crows” piano in Mercerdale Park – are available for the public to play through August 16th.

The community can also enjoy lunchtime piano performances on the “Crowing Crows” piano in Mercerdale park as part of a four-week Brown Bag Concert series hosted by the Mercer Island Center for the Arts (MICA). The first performance by concert pianist Natalya Ageyeva and her piano students will take place at noon on Wednesday, July 22nd.

About the Program

Pianos in the Park is a month-long program bringing 22 hand-painted pianos to Puget Sound area parks and open spaces for free public use. The program, now in its second year, is designed to encourage discovery of our parks and open spaces through music and art. After the program concludes the pianos will be available for public bidding via an online auction.

Music Video Contest & Social Media

Contributed photo: 1908 Chickering Baby Grand Piano in Mercerdale Park

The program also includes a contest in which people of all skill levels and musical persuasions are invited to video themselves performing at one of the participating pianos and uploading the video on the Pianos in the Parks website for a chance to perform at the Seattle Center’s Concerts at the Mural presented by KEXP 90.3 FM on Friday, August 21.

People are also encouraged to snap a photo of themselves and post on Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram using the hashtag #pianosintheparks – and learn about piano-related events online at www.pianosintheparks.com and via social media on Facebook  (www.Facebook.com/pianosintheparks) and Twitter (www.Twitter.com/pianosparks).

The program is made possible by Laird Norton Wealth Management and support from partners including the Mercer Island Parks & Recreation Department. For more information, visit www.pianosintheparks.com.