February 25, 2019 – Nashua, NH – The Nashua Street Pianos will once again be returning to Main Street in May. The program, presented in partnership by Darrell’s Music Hall, Piano Gallery, Great American Downtown, and North Main Music, will celebrate its fourth anniversary in 2019.
Established in 2016, the Nashua Street Piano Project places artistically-painted pianos along Main Street, available for anyone and everyone to play and enjoy, from May to October. Since its inception, the program has grown from 2 to 3 pianos, and the pianos have been utilized by many local arts organizations and musicians for impromptu performances.{{more}}
“We love seeing a passerby stop at the pianos, and start to play,” said Adam Darrell, Vice President of Darrell’s Music Hall. “It’s amazing how many people have the hidden talent of music, and the street pianos gives anyone a public stage to perform on.”
“We’ve found the Nashua Street Pianos program to be transformative. From the sounds flowing through in the air, to the visual quality enhanced by temporary public art, to the way the focal point invites strangers to connect – in placing pianos out into various corners of the Downtown, we change the character of the space, and they way people relate to the urban environment and one another.” said Paul Shea, Great American Downtown executive director. “We are very excited to partner with Darrell’s Music Hall and North Main Music to bring this creative element of living art to back to Main Street again this year.”
Originally inspired by British artist Luke Jerram’s internationally touring “Play Me, I’m Yours” Street Piano Project, the Nashua Street Pianos provide an interconnected resource for the public to express themselves and get to know each other. The pianos have also enticed many hidden musicians to come out and express themselves who may not have access to musical instruments at home. The Nashua Street Pianos provide access to this incredible instrument and give musicians the opportunity to share their creativity with the public.
“We really enjoy being able to give back to our community through music,” said Mike McAdam, founder and director of North Main Music. “There are people out there who don’t have access to a piano at home, but have an interest in music and a desire to express themselves musically. It feels good to be working with other local businesses and organizations to bring music, art, and community together in this way. ”
In 2017, the Nashua Street Piano program not only grew in size, but also in significance, when @Tracy Tracy Lee Carroll of Hudson, NH, became involved with the project as a way to honor her daughter, Amber, who died at age 18 from Sudden Unexpected Death in EPilepsy (SUDEP) in 2016. Amber was a talented musician who delighted in the street pianos during the first year of the program. Carroll’s mother, Maren Holm, painted a piano for Amber, putting over 40 hours of work. In 2018, another piano was painted in Amber’s memory by @Kristien Elizabeth Kristen Elizabeth Wolfe. Each year, Carroll has been hosting an online fundraiser in support the Nashua Street Pianos between her birthday and Amber’s birthday in February and March (respectively).
“I am so grateful to have this opportunity to honor my daughter, Amberlee Carroll, by raising the funds to sponsor our third piano this year. The support from family, friends near and far, and the wonderful Greater Nashua community is overwhelming,” said Tracy Lee Carroll. “The pianos epitomize what Amber did in life, encourage people to share themselves and their talents with others.”
The Nashua Street Piano program is also looking for corporate sponsors for the pianos, which will enable them to be tuned regularly, have effective rain covers made for them, and to maintain their artwork and signage, all of which will help to ensure that they look and sound fantastic throughout the entire season. You and your business can be part of this fun and unique community-building program for as little as $150. A limited number of premium sponsorship spaces, which include additional promotion and exposure benefits, are also available. If you are interested in being a partner in this fun, unique, and inviting community-building program, please contact Sarah Roy, marketing and public relations person for North Main Music, at commongoodcrtv@gmail.com .
 Friends and Family of Amberlee Carroll gather around the piano painted in her memory by Kristen Elizabeth Wolfe during a 2018 Epilepsy Foundation New England event. From Left to right: Angela Miller, Eliza Marquita Bouwhuis, Tracy Lee Carroll, Lou Alciere, and unnamed woman at piano. Photo credit: Allegra Boverman Photography |  Passersby enjoy tickling the ivories on a 2018 Nashua Street Piano painted by Cecilia Ulibarri and Manuel Ramirez of Positive Street Art. Photo credit: A Curious Production | 
Adam Darrell of Darrell’s Music Hall (left, foreground) and members of his staff pose with pianos painted for the 2017 Nashua Street Piano program. Photo credit: Paul W. Shea |
Attached Photos:
Photo 1: Friends and Family of Amberlee Carroll gather around the piano painted in her memory by Kristen Elizabeth Wolfe during a 2018 Epilepsy Foundation New England event. From Left to right: Angela Miller, Eliza Marquita Bouwhuis, Tracy Lee Carroll, Lou Alciere, and unnamed woman at piano. Photo credit: Allegra Boverman Photography
Photo 2: Passersby enjoy tickling the ivories on a 2018 Nashua Street Piano painted by Cecilia Ulibarri and Manuel Ramirez of Positive Street Art. Photo credit: A Curious Production
Photo 3: Adam Darrell of Darrell’s Music Hall (left, foreground) and members of his staff pose with pianos painted for the 2017 Nashua Street Piano program. Photo credit: Paul W. Shea
