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.

Flower Piano 2017 Schedule:

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
    1. Great Meadow
      Rob Reich : Tribute to Ellington, Waller, and Monk
    2. Exhibition Garden – Thomas Church Pavilion
      Mauro ffortissimo : Classics and Tangos
    3. Garden of Fragrance
      Daniel Sullivan : Mad Tea Party – Mad Scenes, Sarchasms & Surprises
    4. Rhododendron Garden
      Colleen Torianne : Modern Edwardian Interpretations
    5. Ancient Plant Garden
      Gerry Bassermann : Music of Major Minimalists
    6. New Zealand Garden
      Kitten on the Keys : Flapper, Rock, Originals, Punk, Blues, Standards
    7. South Africa Garden
      Kat Downs : Originals, Classical, Pop Covers
    8. California Native Garden
      Joseph Willcockson & Friends : Classical, Ragtime, Blues & Jazz Standards, Favorites
    9. Redwood Grove
      Joshua Raoul Brody, w. or w/o Friends : Standards, Substandards, Originals, Aboriginals
    10. Conifer Lawn
      Dizzy Victrola & Co. : Boogie and Jazz Parlor
    11. Moon Viewing Garden
      Joe Magdalena : Standards, Pop, Sinatra, Happy Stuff
    12. Zellerbach Garden
      Benjamin Gribble : Original Compositions with Prepared Piano and More
  • 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.

 

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