Play Me Again Pianos Debuts New Public Piano For Chastain Park

Play Me Again Pianos, a nonprofit charity dedicated to installing and permanently maintaining 88 public pianos throughout the Atlanta area, announced today its newest piano will open under the Pavilion at the Chastain Park Playground on Sunday, May 20, 2018 at 1:30 p.m. Play Me Again Pianos invites the community to a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the piano named "Melody." The event will feature a performance by a local young pianist, after which Melody will be available for everyone to play and enjoy.

"Street pianos and public pianos inspire people to connect with each other in ways that were once common, but seem increasingly rare. By adding our pianos to the landscape throughout the metropolitan area, we hope to nurture that connection into an evolution of Atlanta's culture, community and the arts," said Jason Brett, co-founder of Play Me Again Pianos.

"What a gift! The Chastain Park Conservancy is honored to have been the first recipient of a public piano from Play Me Again Pianos and is thrilled to be able to continue the tradition with Melody," said Rosa McHugh, director of the Chastain Park Conservancy. "We are grateful to Play Me Again Pianos for sharing the love of music with us and with all who enjoy the Chastain Park Playground!"

Designed by fourth-grade Midtown International School (MIS) student Riya Kukreja, Melody was painted as a collaborative effort across the entire student body. It's the second public piano painted the school. In 2017 MIS painted Aragon, a spectacular dragon themed piano, now located in Ashford Park in Brookhaven.

"This has been quite an exciting project this year at MIS," said Sherilyn Taylor, Visual Arts Instructor at the school. "Everyone has enjoyed watching the gradual transformation of the piano as it turned into a colorful work of art. Having a second opportunity to work with Play Me Again Pianos has been an honor and a wonderful experience for everyone. I am proud of all the students who helped to make Melody happen."

Melody replaces the beloved piano named Janssen, who boasts a stunning design by internationally acclaimed artist, Sergey Cherep. Janssen was the first public piano installed by Play Me Again Pianos whose unveiling coincided with the grand re-opening of the Chastain Park Playground in 2016. "It's with a wistful sigh that it's time to retire Janssen," said Brett. "He'll always hold a special place in our hearts. But we're delighted to share Melody with the Chastain community, and we're quite sure that she'll be embraced just as enthusiastically."

Find and play other installations by Play Me Again Pianos at The Woodruff Arts Center, Colony Square, Dunwoody Nature Center, Chamblee Rail Trail, Ashford Park in Brookhaven, East Cobb Park, Ponce City Market, Atlantic Station, Cogburn Road Park in Alpharetta, the Egg Harbor Cafe in East Cobb and Mount Vernon Presbyterian School in Sandy Springs. Additional pianos are in various stages of planning and development.

About Play Me Again Pianos

A registered 501(c)(3) non-profit charity founded in Georgia in 2016, Play Me Again Pianos places, maintains and promotes public pianos to strengthen communities, inspire joy and bring people together through shared encounters with public music and art. Each piano is uniquely painted by a variety of volunteer artists ranging from internationally acclaimed professionals to aspiring amateurs and students. They are currently working to place 88 pianos throughout Metropolitan Atlanta. To find a map of Play Me Again Pianos installations, donate, volunteer or find out more visit PlayMeAgainPianos.org.

About Midtown International School
Midtown International School serves gifted and academically superior students who thrive in small class environments. The globally minded curriculum and problem-based instruction create a community of engaged global leaders dedicated to the values of respect, responsibility, citizenship and justice. For more information, visit MidtownInternationalSchool.com.

About The Chastain Park Conservancy
The Chastain Park Conservancy is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the stewardship of Troy Chastain Memorial Park's natural and historic resources. Our mission is to restore, enhance, maintain and preserve the Park's 268 acres for its over 2 million annual visitors. We do this through the support of individuals, volunteers, family foundations and local businesses. Together we achieve our daily goal of keeping the park clean, safe and green for all park users. For more information, visit ChastainParkConservancy.org.

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