In collaboration with the amazing Sunset Piano, the San Francisco Botanical Garden once again in 2017 transforms into the city’s own outdoor concert hall, and everyone is invited to play and listen.
For twelve days only, July 13-24, 2017, you are encouraged to seek out the twelve pianos tucked among the many flower-filled gardens within the Garden’s 55 acres and play what you like.
On weekend days, professional pianists and a whole host of other musicians are scheduled to perform as well, and the public is welcome to watch and listen.
Sunday, July 16
- 10-11 am – Story Time and Family Walk
Regularly scheduled Family Program in the Library - 12–3 pm – Exhibition Garden – Thomas Church Pavilion: Duo Pianos
Esther Aeschbach and Benjamin Gribble : Original Compositions
Allison Lovejoy and Kymry Esainko : Works by Saint-Saens, Milhaud and others. - 11 am–4 pm – Zellerbach Garden
- 11 am – Dawn Oberg
- 12 pm – Tom Jonesing: Rock & Pop Remodeling & General Improvements
- 1 pm – Michael McIntosh, Piano & Karina Deniké, Vocals: Early Jazz, Torch Songs, Vintage Soul
- 2 pm – Cellista & the Juxtapositions Chamber Ensemble: The New Classics
- 3 pm – Van-Anh Nguyen: Chopin, Schubert, Tchaikovsky & Piazzolla with a twist.
- 4 pm – Kash Killion and Killion’s Trillions: World Music, Jazz, Blues and Tango
- 11 am-4:30 pm – Great Meadow
- 11 am – Diva Marisa Lenhardt, Pianist Kymry Esainko: Arias and Interludes
- 12 pm – Serene: Liszt, Ravel, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and more
- 1-2:30 pm – Tango No. 9ish : Tangos, Waltzes, Milongas & Art Songs – Then & Now
- 2:30-4:30 pm – Francisco Rosales: Musica Cubana
Tuesday, July 18
- 4-6 pm – Oakland School for the Arts Student Performances
Performances by Oakland School for the Arts students across piano, guitar, and jazz programs at the Great Meadow and Garden of Fragrance
Wednesday, July 19
- 4-6 pm – Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts Student Performances
Performances inspired by the Garden from students of the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts at the Great Meadow
Thursday, July 20
- 6-8 pm – Flower Piano Member Event
Come tickle the ivories at this special member evening. The Garden will remain open at dusk exclusively for members to experience the magic of the pianos in a special reception.
Friday, July 21
- 4-6 pm – Community Music Center Summer of Love Sing-along
Join Community Music Center’s Billy Philadelphia at the Great Meadow for a lively sing-along with some of the top songs from 1967.
Saturday, July 22
- 10-11:30 am – Rabbit Hole Theatre
Family-friendly theater activity will focus on pianos and locations nearest Friend (North) Gate - 12-2 pm – Piano Extravaganza #2
- Great Meadow
Rob Reich : Tribute to Ellington, Waller, and Monk - Exhibition Garden – Thomas Church Pavilion
Mauro ffortissimo : Classics and Tangos - Garden of Fragrance
Daniel Sullivan : Mad Tea Party – Mad Scenes, Sarchasms & Surprises - Rhododendron Garden
Colleen Torianne : Modern Edwardian Interpretations - Ancient Plant Garden
Gerry Bassermann : Music of Major Minimalists - New Zealand Garden
Kitten on the Keys : Flapper, Rock, Originals, Punk, Blues, Standards - South Africa Garden
Kat Downs : Originals, Classical, Pop Covers - California Native Garden
Joseph Willcockson & Friends : Classical, Ragtime, Blues & Jazz Standards, Favorites - Redwood Grove
Joshua Raoul Brody, w. or w/o Friends : Standards, Substandards, Originals, Aboriginals - Conifer Lawn
Dizzy Victrola & Co. : Boogie and Jazz Parlor - Moon Viewing Garden
Joe Magdalena : Standards, Pop, Sinatra, Happy Stuff - Zellerbach Garden
Benjamin Gribble : Original Compositions with Prepared Piano and More
- Great Meadow
- 1-4 pm – Bean Sprouts Family Day
Mini-pianos and music-making materials in the Children’s Garden - 3-5 pm – Beatnik’s Corner
Mauro ffortissimo, Dean Mermell & Guests : Open & Prepared Pianos, Poetry, Improvisations - 7:30-10:30 pm – NightGarden Piano
Let beautifully lit pathways guide you to pianos aglow at a special evening event featuring twelve performances by Sunset Piano all-stars, open pianos to play, food, drink, and more. Your ticket purchase for NightGarden Piano goes directly to supporting Flower Piano 2017. Purchase ticketsfor this one-of-a-kind evening in Garden today and support Flower Piano.
Sunday, July 23
- 11 am-6 pm Zellerbach Garden
- 11 am – Daniel Sullivan : Pas De Deux: Dream Sequences & Psychedelic Reveries
- 12 pm – Allison Lovejoy and Guests : Solo and chamber music
- 1 pm – Jill Tracy : Elegant, Eerie Noir, Haunting Post-Classical Originals
- 2 pm – Craig and MacGregor Group : Jazz
- 3 pm – Serene : Liszt, Ravel, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and more
- 4-6 pm – Paulo Sultanum & Casulo : A Brazilian Bossa-Folk-Nova Experience
- 12-4 pm Great Meadow
- 12 pm – Jonathan Miller : Chopin & Scriabin
- 1 pm – Kat Downs : Originals, Classical, Pop Covers
- 2-4 pm – Francisco Rosales : Musica Cubana
Monday, July 24, 9 am-6 pm – Closing Day
Pianos close at 6 pm. No scheduled performances or events.