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What-s-On

Pianos in Parks

 
Earlier this week Pianos in the Park was launched in Kelowna. You may have already seen them but you should know that Kelowna now has 5 pianos downtown for the public to use at their leisure.  It’s a program that is modeled after the growingly popular “Street Pianos” initiative that is happening in various cities throughout the world. http://www.streetpianos.com/
It all started last summer when a busker, Leila Neverland, came into the Festivals Kelowna office asking if we would consider looking at hosting a street piano program in Kelowna. The reality was that we were in our event season so we didn't have the time to look into it but she took it upon herself to research what it would take to create such a program in Kelowna. One of her first discoveries was that Elmer at Keystone Music had the ability to supply pianos for the program through both community donations and their stock supply. Over the course of the Winter and Spring he would drop by the Festivals Kelowna office randomly and drop off a piano for the program.
 
Jumping forward in the spring of 2015 Disney Interactive came on board and offered to use their volunteers to help paint three of the pianos using their in-house creatives. As you see in the video above they chose to focus on Mickey, Puffles, and an Okanagan landscape. So now they are out there waiting to be played. If you see them play them, post a video, use the hashtag #pianosinparks but most of all enjoy seeing our parks animated with the sound of spontaneous music.
 
For more information on the program you can go to the Festivals Kelowna site: http://festivalskelowna.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=66&Itemid=21
Or check out the newly dedicated Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pianos-in-Parks/1586004311651154
 

 

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.



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About the Author

Ryan Donn is a singer/songwriter, event producer, digital creative, and Councillor at the City of Kelowna

I love creating songs, which have been used by the Terry Fox Run, Kelowna’s Centennial Celebration, or heard on various local radio stations. 

In the past few years, I've focused on creating community events including Music in the Park, New York New Years, Castanet’s Free Family Skate, Talented Kids, Talented Kelowna, and others.

Originally from Scotland, I’ve lived in Kelowna for over 20 years. My wife, Kimberly, and our two daughters, Lyla and Bella, share our home with Tom (adult with diverse abilities).

In 2014, I was elected to Kelowna City Council. 

Opinions are my own, and don't represent the City of Kelowna, Festivals Kelowna or Creative Okanagan. 

To connect with Ryan:

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The views expressed are strictly those of the author and not necessarily those of Castanet. Castanet does not warrant the contents.

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