On February 5, through an integrated partnership with the City of Beverly Hills and the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Sing for Hope Pianos placed 16 pianos designed by local artists in front of The Wallis Center. Sing for Hope is one of the world’s largest annually recurring public art projects bringing joy and inspiring a community where anyone is welcome to play. The event kicked off with a dance program from the Debbie Allen Dance Academy and piano performances from renowned music artists. The event also included youth playing their piano pieces. One of the performers was only six years old.
The colorful and creative artworks will appear throughout Beverly Hills landmark spots such as Beverly Hills City Hall, Beverly Gardens Park, the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Will Rogers Memorial Park, La Cienega Park, and Roxbury Park. Lester Vrtiak, Director of the Sing for Hope Pianos remarked “In a world where a lot of performing arts venues have been closed and people haven’t had access to the arts, the Sing for Hope pianos program has been a really cool and unique way to give access to the arts when all these performing venues are closed. So the fact that Sing for Hope can put a piano in a park or street corner for a gathering of music just gives people a moment to experience live music again especially during this unprecedented time. This is what Sing for Hope is hoping to do with our program. Not just here in Beverly Hills but we also do this all over the country.”
Sing for Hope was founded by two acclaimed opera singers and graduates of The Juilliard School, Monica Yunus, and Camille Zamora. Monica and Camille were both considered to be part of “Top 50 Americans in Philanthropy” by Town & Country.
The program will run until September 6th, then the Sing for Hope pianos will be moved to permanent homes in public schools across Los Angeles in the fall.
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