Pianos on the Street fill Parkgate Plaza with the sounds of music, laughter and song!
MEDIA RELEASE – July 6, 2015
NORTH VANCOUVER - Pianos on the Street is a community engagement initiative spearheaded by Pacey’s Pianos and the Piano Teachers Federation in partnership with the North Vancouver Recreation & Culture Commission. The Parkgate Community Centre Plaza in the District of North Vancouver is one of two ‘new’ north shore locations for the popular outdoor pianos this summer.
Since 2014, Pianos on the Street has been placing pianos in public places throughout Metro Vancouver for the enjoyment of all members of the community. A focal point at popular gathering places, the colourful pianos are a catalyst for drawing people together and sparking conversations between strangers. They provide a friendly performance platform for pianists of all ages and abilities - inspiring some to pursue a new, or renewed, passion for the piano.
As part of the program, all pianos are painted by a local community group under the direction of a lead artist. The Parkgate Plaza piano, located between the Parkgate Community Centre and the Parkgate Library has been painted by members of the My Parkgate Break group under the direction of lead artist Maureen Coles.
The official unveiling of the Parkgate piano will take place on Friday July 10 at 1pm. District of North Vancouver Mayor Richard Walton will be in attendance, along with project partners including: North Vancouver Recreation & Culture; Parkgate Community Services; the Parkgate Library; Pacey’s Pianos; and, Piano Teacher’s Federation performers. Pianist Ruth Townsend and the award winning Parkgate Singers will lead a sing-along to celebrate the newest addition to the Pianos on the Street family.
This year, the popular Pianos on the Street video contest returns where individuals can upload their performance to be eligible to win cash prizes and an opportunity to audition and perform with Lions Gate Sinfonia during their 2015-2016 season. Plus, there’s an Instagram contest with cash prizes for the best photo taken at one of the outdoor pianos.
The Pianos on the Street initiative was jointly created by Pacey’s Pianos and The Piano Teachers Federation. For generations, Pacey’s Pianos has been one of Western Canada’s premier distributors of quality musical instruments offering a high standard of service, range of instruments and depth of experience. Founded by Pacey’s Pianos, the Piano Teachers Federation is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting piano teachers and providing resources for students in the community.
The North Vancouver Recreation & Culture Commission (NVRC) is coordinating Pianos on the Street in the two new North Vancouver locations at the Parkgate Community Centre and in Civic Plaza. A bimunicipal organization of the District and City of North Vancouver, NVRC is dedicated to building healthy individuals, families and communities by providing and facilitating diverse, accessible recreation and cultural opportunities.
For more information about Pianos on the Street visit http://supportpiano.com/#up
For more information about Pianos on the Street in North Vancouver, contact:
Anne Rodgers, North Vancouver Recreation & Culture Commission
604 983-6466 rodgersa@nvrc.ca
Sean Pacey, Pacey’s Pianos & the Piano Teachers Federation
604 732-8836 sean@paceyspianos.com
