Flower Piano - Garden transforms into the city's own outdoor concert hall

Back by overwhelming demand! In collaboration with Sunset Piano, the Garden once again transforms into the city's own outdoor concert hall, and everyone is invited to play and listen!

This summer for twelve days only July 7 - 18, visitors are encouraged to seek out the twelve pianos tucked among the many flower-filled gardens within the Garden's 55 acres and play what they like, from chopsticks to Tchaikovsky. On weekend days, professional pianists and a whole host of other musicians will be scheduled to perform as well, and the public is welcome to watch and listen.

All twelve pianos will be available for the public to play between 9am and 6pm each day where there are no scheduled performances. Access to the pianos and scheduled performances are free with regular admission (admission is free for Members and San Francisco residents with proof of residency). An overview of the performance schedule is as follows:

Flower Piano 2016 Schedule of Performances

Saturday, July 9

10-11am - The Rabbit Hole Theater Company Performance
Don't miss The Rabbit Hole Theater Company in the Garden, presenting a magical scavenger hunt as families use their eyes and ears to discover hidden, costumed performers in the gardens adjacent to the Friend (North) Gate. A greeter will launch the activity starting at the Friend Gate, giving families a clue card.


12 - 2pm - Simultaneous Performances at all 12 Pianos

1. Great Meadow - Francisco Rosales: Old Afro Cuban, solo and w. bass, percussion, singers
2. Exhibition Garden, Thomas Church Pavilion - Martha Cooper: Solos & Singers, Weill, Classical, and Show Tunes
3. Garden of Fragrance - Paulo V. Sultanum : Bossa Nova Standards & Classical Selections
4. Rhododendron Pavilion - Freddi Price: H. Nilsson, R. Newman, L. Russell, H.Carmichael, and more
5. Ancient Plant Garden - Mauro ffortissimo: Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms
6. New Zealand, Waterfowl Pond - Joe Magdalena: Standards, Pop, Sinatra, Happy Stuff
7. Fountain Plaza - Sandra Simich: Chopin, Debussy, Beethoven, Brahms, Schumann's Carnival
8. South Africa Garden - Antony Ty: Punk, Allen Ginsberg Beat, Gospel, Chopin
9. CA Native Garden Stone Circle - Kitten on the Keys: 20's, Standards, Blues, Cabaret, Punk Rock
10. Redwood Grove - Joshua Raoul Brody & Zoltan di Bartolo : Tangos, Neapolitans, Standards, and more
11. Moon Viewing Garden - Esther Aeschbach: Debussy, Beethoven, Chopin, Schumann
12. Zellerbach Garden - Serene Han: Old & New: Bach, Beethoven, Ravel, Bolcom, Ligeti


Featured Performance:

3-4pm - Zellerbach Garden
Van-Anh Nguyen: Classical & Classical Crossover Arrangements of Chopin, Piazzolla, Brahms, John Legend & more.


Sunday, July 10

11am-5pm - Zellerbach Garden

11am - Sarah Cahill w. Kate Stenberg: Violin: Lou Harrison, Ruth Crawford, and Henry Cowell
12-2pm - Danny Sullivan: Alice in Wonderland Dance Suite
2pm - Mauro ffortissimo and Kash Killion: Piazzolla, Villalobos, Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms
3pm - Allison Lovejoy: Romantic, Impressionist, and Modern. Live painting to Debussy by Peggy Gyulai.
4pm - Cellista & The Juxtapositions Chamber Ensemble: Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time
5pm - Tom Jonesing: Rock and Pop, Standards and Non-Standards

11am-4pm - Great Meadow

11am - Diva Marisa Lenhardt and Kymry Esainko: Lieder, Arias, and Interludes
12pm - Antony Ty: Punk, Allen Ginsberg Beat, Gospel, Chopin
1-2pm - Eric Chase & Ashley Roof: Opera, Art Songs, Church Music, Schubert, Mozart
2-4pm - Francisco Rosales: Old Afro Cuban, solo and w. Bass, Percussion, Singers


Thursday, July 14

7-9pm - Flower Piano Member Event
Members enjoy special guests, local food and drinks, as well as exclusive access to the pianos!


Friday, July 15

3-5pm - Fountain Plaza
Mauro ff / Dean Mermell / Freddi Price: Open and Prepared Piano Compositions and Improvisations!

5-7pm - Great Meadow
Sing-a-long with Community Music Center: Join Community Music Center's Billy Philadelphia for a lively sing-along!
Expect something for everyone: standards, oldies, show tunes, folk songs, Motown, Beatles, Americana, the works!
Printed lyrics will be available.

Saturday, July 16

10-11am - The Rabbit Hole Theater Company Performance
Don't miss The Rabbit Hole Theater Company in the Garden, presenting a magical scavenger hunt as families use their eyes and ears to discover hidden, costumed performers in the gardens adjacent to the Friend (North) Gate. A greeter will launch the activity starting at the Friend Gate, giving families a clue card.

12pm - 2pm - Simultaneous Performances at all 12 Pianos
1. Great Meadow- Francisco Rosales: Old Afro Cuban, solo and w. bass, percussion, singers
2. Exhibition Garden, Thomas Church Pavilion - Eric Chase: Bach, Beethoven, Schubert, Mozart and others
3. Garden of Fragrance - Holly Mead: Originals, classical, jazz
4. Rhododendron Pavilion - Colleen Murray: Modern Edwardian Interpretations
5. Ancient Plant Garden - Mauro ff and Robert Soper: Piazzola, Villalobos, Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms
6. New Zealand, Waterfowl Pond - Ander Meyer: Piano Lounge, Classic Jazz Selections
7. Fountain Plaza - Kevin Gerzevitz: Jazz Standards, Modern Improvisations, and more
8. South Africa - Gerald Basserman: Bowie Bardo and more
9. CA Native Garden Stone Circle - Joshua Raoul Brody: Originals, Aboriginals, Standards, Substandards
10. Redwood Grove - Kitten on the Keys: Tin Pan Alley, Show Tunes, Cabaret, Punk
11. Moon Viewing Garden - Benjamin Gribble: Originals, Prepared piano, Bach, Shostakovich, Satie, Glass
2. Zellerbach Garden - Sarah Cahill: Ravel, Debussy
Featured Performances:
2-5pm - Fountain Plaza
The Awesöme Orchestra, full 80 piece concert orchestra, conducted by David Möschler - work through & performance:
2-3pm: Allison Lovejoy on Piano, Beethoven's Piano Concerto #4 in G Major Opus 58
3-5pm: Luis Manuel and Alex Conde on Piano, Alex Conde's Piano Concerto, Barrio Del Carmen

4-6pm - Zellerbach
4-6pm: Esther Aeschbach, Allison Lovejoy, Benjamin Gribble, Kymry Esainko : Piano Duets (2 Pianos)

Sunday, July 17
11am-6pm - Zellerbach

11am - Danny Sullivan: Psychedelic, Romantic, Opera/ballet Garden Themed Medleys
12-2pm - Esther Aeschbach, Allison Lovejoy, Benjamin Gribble, Kymry Esainko: Duets on 2 Pianos
2pm - Serene Han: Lisztomania and More
3pm - Alex Conde: Spanish Classical and Originals
4-6pm - Ander Meyer and the Jazzflower Florchestra: A Closing Celebration

Monday, July 18
7pm - 9:30pm - Flower Piano Full Moon Walk
Say farewell to the pianos on this special evening tour of the Garden with a performance by the extraordinarily talented Serene Han. Requires separate ticket.

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