KCET Strikes a Chord with 'Play Me, I'm Yours' Performing Arts Project
KCET STRIKES A CHORD WITH 'PLAY ME, I'M YOURS' PERFORMING ARTS PROJECT
New short-form segments on the unique initiative begin airing today throughout KCET's schedule.
Burbank, CA - April 26, 2012 - As it grows to a crescendo in Southern California, KCET, the nation's largest independent television station, has announced a special programming initiative to chronicle the performing arts project, Play Me, I'm Yours currently taking over Los Angeles County. KCET has produced a series of short-form segments called, SoCal Street Sounds that begin airing today throughout the KCET schedule.
Play Me, I'm Yours, brought to the region for the first time by the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO), began on April 12 and runs through May 3. Thirty pianos, designed and decorated by local artists and community organizations, are featured all over Los Angeles County. With locations from San Pedro to Pacoima, and Claremont to the Santa Monica Pier, the pianos are available for people in every community to try their hand at playing the instrument while helping celebrate acclaimed conductor and pianist Jeffrey Kahane's 15th anniversary as LACO music director.
Val Zavala, KCET's vice president of News and Public Affairs who also anchors the station's acclaimed news program SoCal Connected, visits three piano locations. Produced by Zavala, the 1-minute segments feature Julliard-trained pianist U-Jung Jung in San Pedro (who has set out to play all thirty pianos), LACO Executive Director Rachel Fine at the Chinatown piano, and the children of the Watts/Willowbrook Boys' and Girls' Club where kids had a try at being maestros for the day.
In addition, KCET.org features special web extras on the project, including additional video footage, snapshots and more detailed information about the segments at www.kcet.org/SoCalStreetSounds.
"Capturing this unique project as it engages our community in music is another reflection of our commitment to exploring the arts and culture in Southern California," says Al Jerome, president and CEO of KCET. "We're excited to be able get our viewers involved with such a fun, grassroots initiative."
Touring internationally since 2008, Play Me, I'm Yours is artwork conceived by British artist~Luke Jerram. More than 500 pianos have now been installed in cities across the globe, from New York to Sydney, bearing the simple instruction Play Me, I'm Yours.
ABOUT KCET
On-air, online and in the community, KCET plays a vital role in the cultural and educational enrichment of Southern and Central California. KCET offers a wide range of award-winning local programming as well as the finest public television programs from around the world. KCET currently produces the Emmy®, duPont-Columbia and Peabody Award-winning~SoCal Connected, a hard-hitting prime-time weekly television news program that examines the issues and people of Southern California. Throughout its 48-year history, KCET has won hundreds of major awards for its local and regional news and public affairs programming, its national drama and documentary productions, its quality educational family and children's programs, its outreach and community services and its website, kcet.org. KCET is a donor-supported community institution. For additional information about KCET productions, web-exclusive content, programming schedules and community events, please visit kcet.org.
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