Hill City Keys, formally known as Keys for the Hill City, is back for a fourth year. The program has a new name and new direction under the Academy Center of the Arts as part of the Community Outreach Initiative. The program was started when Libby Fitzgerald was inspired by a similar program in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
The pianos will be unveiled Saturday, April 22nd. Performers from Lynchstock Music Festival will kick of the day with music from 9:30am to 10:30am.
Seven creatively painted pianos will be placed on sidewalks downtown from April through September. Pianos are donated and transported to local schools, where they are painted with the direction of art teachers. Each piano has a distinct theme that represents the artistic gifts of local students. Each piano is tuned and ready to play throughout downtown Lynchburg for the public to engage, play, and enjoy.
There are plans to schedule musical entertainment around the pianos throughout the season. Most of all, we hope local citizens and visitors alike will tickle those keys and make magical musical moments for our city!
The pianos are known to engage those strolling down the sidewalks downtown who play the pianos on a whim.
The Academy encourages you to not only play the pianos, but also record your performances with photos and video.
Share your experience on social media by using the hashtag #hillcitykeys
Thank you to Home Depot for providing paint and supplies to the schools, to T. J. Matthews for tuning, and to Perry’s Pianos for moving. Special thank you to this year’s sponsors Jamerson Lewis Construction and Pacific Life for making this program possible.
So be sure to see and play all of the pianos at their downtown locations:
- Bank of the James – Heritage High School
- The Galleria -Dunbar Middle School
- Schewels Furniture – Virginia Episcopal School
- Kegney Bros Irish Pub – Jefferson Forest High School
- Community Market – Altavista High School
- Amazement Square – EC Glass High School
- Visitor Center – Brookville High School
Please contact Director of Community Outreach Evan Smith at 434-528-3256×114 with any questions or comments.
