Yamaha Sponsors Pacific Symphony’s 'OC Can You Play?’ Piano Public Art Project

BUENA PARK, Calif. — With the help of Yamaha Corporation of America, approximately 20 pianos will appear in public spaces throughout Orange County, California, as part of Pacific Symphony's "OC Can You Play?" initiative from Sunday, January 16 to Sunday, February 6, 2011.

Pianos will appear at South Coast Plaza; Downtown Disney in Anaheim; the Irvine Spectrum Center; the Block at Orange; the Main Beach in Laguna Beach and near the Mission in San Juan Capistrano. Other hosting sites include the Orange County Performing Arts Center (the Symphony's artistic partner); Irvine Barclay Theater, the University of California, Irvine; The Lab in Costa Mesa; Great Park in Irvine; Fullerton; OASIS Senior Center in Newport Beach; Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley; downtown Santa Ana; and the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center in Mission Viejo.

As a presenting sponsor, Yamaha has donated five pianos, which are being painted by local professional artists, while the Piano Technicians Guild is providing significant support in preparing and tuning the instruments. People of all skill levels are invited to play tunes. Impromptu or planned classical, rock and jazz performances are welcome. Players are also invited to videotape a performance and display it on YouTube and the Symphony's Facebook page. To learn more, contact Kelly Dylla at (714) 876-2323; or e-mail kdylla@pacificsymphony.org.

"Yamaha Corporation of America has made its home in Orange County for more than 50 years," said Mark Anderson, Director of Marketing, Yamaha Keyboard Division. "We're excited to be part of such a fun and worthy project - and to help give our neighbors the opportunity to make music with our amazing instruments."

"Yamaha is thrilled to be part of this installation because it reminds us how much fun it is to play music," said Paul Calvin, Vice President and General Manager, Yamaha Keyboard Division. "It will also show that most anyone can learn to play, if given the opportunity."

The installation is part of Pacific Symphony's ambitious "OC Can You Play?" three-phase project. The project also includes two other initiatives, the first beginning in March, when the Symphony hosts the competition "OC Can You Sing?" for amateur singers. In May, "OC Can You Play With Us?" invites amateur musicians to play side-by-side with the Symphony, conducted by Music Director Carl St. Clair, in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, Calif.

Keep up with all the activities and where to find a piano when you need one at www.pacificsymphony.org/OCCanUPlay.

"OC Can You Play" was inspired by Pacific Symphony's 2010-11 season, dubbed the "Year of the Piano," which features top pianists all season long, including Yuja Wang, Lise de la Salle and Lang Lang. The centerpiece and culmination of the piano festival occurs in mid-February 2011 when Arnaldo Cohen performs all five Beethoven piano concerti over three nights.

For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; e-mail infostation@yamaha.com; or visit www.yamaha.com/press.