Concord Conservatory of MusicConcord Conservatory of MusicTo celebrate the Concord Conservatory of Music’s 20th Anniversary, we’re bringing the joy of live music out of the concert hall and into everyday life with Pianos on the Town. In partnership with the global arts nonprofit Sing for Hope Piano(s), artist-designed pianos will appear throughout Concord and West Concord—free for anyone to play, enjoy, and discover.
From May 30 through June 26, 2026, these pianos will become open-air stages, invitations for spontaneous concerts, and colorful landmarks celebrating our town’s creative spirit.
Visit our pianos at these locations throughout Concord and West Concord:
| Event | Date & Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Party: Piano Xtravaganza CCM Students & Faculty |
Sat, May 30 at 10:30 am | CCM 2, 15 Junction Square Drive |
| Faculty Pop-up Concert Yelena Beriyeva |
Fri, June 5 at 1:00 pm | Visitor’s Center/Middlesex Bank |
| Concord Pride Parade Launch Kayleigh Bennett & Leah Kosch |
Sat, June 6 at 9:15 am | The Umbrella Arts Center |
| CCM Student Showcase Student Performers |
Sun, June 7 at 2:00 pm *CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER | Bruce Freeman Rail Trail |
| Faculty Pop-up Concert William Kim |
Thu, June 11 at 1:00 pm | Guitar Museum |
| Faculty Pop-up Concert Philipp Stäudlin & Yoko Hagino |
Fri, June 12 at 1:00 pm | Concord Museum |
| Drop-in Piano Lessons William Kim |
Sat, June 13 at 11:00 am – 1:00 pm | Hunt Rec Center |
| Faculty Pop-up Concert Jackson Carruthers |
Fri, June 19 at 7:00 pm | Walden Street |
| CCM Student Showcase Student Performers |
Sat, June 20 at 11:30 am | Hunt Rec Center |
This design depicts the serenity of watching raindrops fall, forming intricate ripples and reflections across a pond on a calm, rainy morning. The raindrops provide a parallel to the sound of piano keys being played, each droplet like a note, unfolding a soft composition across the water’s surface. It speaks to our connection to nature, where even small moments, like a single rain drop on a pond, carry rhythm and sound. Both water and music bring lush, vibrant life to this world. Each has the power to nourish, to calm, and to connect us more deeply to ourselves and our surroundings.
I am an emerging visual artist and community arts facilitator, working across painting, drawing, and animation. My work orbits themes of connection and gratitude, shaped in part by my experience with chronic illness and pain. I use vibrant colors and whimsy to create playful yet heartfelt work, aiming to gently tug at a human’s tearful, tender response to love and the beauty of the world around us.
With a background in environmental and marine science, I consider myself an observer. My art practice grows from quiet observations of patterns in nature, in people, and in the shadows that cast themselves across my walks home. Through my work, I aim to exaggerate these subtle patterns, and invite the viewer to notice and imagine them alongside me.
My design strives to connect the ideas of community and spontaneity: a riot of flowers growing together, sprouting out of a field of abstract color. The undercoat is improvised, letting the natural flow and drip of paint create something surprising. Then over the top, flowers are outlined in black, letting the color underneath show through. The feeling I’m trying to capture is similar to what I feel when my husband finds a piano in public and plays something lovely! We always feel very connected to the world in those moments, but they are not planned and so they end up being even more precious, since we do not know when they might happen again.
Rachel D’Erminio is a Concord based illustrator. Her philosophy is that each piece of art is the beginning of a shared story. She tries to capture a single moment—stepping into a secret garden, discovering a lost map, meeting a new friend—and lets the viewer imagine the before and after, the motivations and the emotions that complete the narrative.
While designing this piano motif, I drew inspiration from the bold, vibrant colors of spring tulips; those first blooms I reach for to bring freshness and life into my home after a long winter. I love their simple shape and the variety of colors they come in – from purple and pink to variegated reds and yellows. As I go for a walk or run around town, I notice them breaking through the recently frozen ground, following the crocuses and first blades of grass, letting us know that “Spring is here!” My hope for this piano project is that its bright colors and strong design invite connection; drawing in a musician to sit and play a joyful tune, or catching the eye of a kiddo who feels compelled to step closer and explore the shapes and colors. I hope the phrasing on the front of the piano, “If it’s nice, play it twice!” will not only inspire a laugh but also encourage anyone passing by to take a seat and play a while!
Jamie is a Vermont-born and raised creative soul now based in Concord, MA, where she lives with her husband and their one energetic boy, a very snuggly old Labrador, and an impressive stash of art supplies. She has over 15 years of experience teaching high school art and holds a Master’s in Art Education, a B.A. in Visual Art, and an honorary doctorate in funky earring collecting. Using printmaking, illustration, mixed media, and sculpture, Jamie’s work is rooted in a simple mission: to spark wonder, laughter, and imagination in children and the people who care for them. Inspired by the magic of nature and a sense of adventure, she creates vibrant, playful pieces filled with whimsical creatures, bold color, and joyful energy, reminding us all of the beauty and delight woven into everyday life.
My design is inspired by Concord, MA icon Henry David Thoreau and his work Walden. The artwork incorporates elements of nature from his writing to place us in the environment which he describes as bringing him the highest level of life satisfaction. I want those who see the piano to be immersed in the same magical landscape in which Thoreau greatly cherished. I want it to be a reminder to enjoy the simplicity of nature, real life, apart from social media and electronics. This is why I include a quote from Thoreau “Simplify, Simplify, Simplify!”. Life doesn’t have to be complex to be enjoyable. In coordination with the act of sitting down at a piano, the artwork encourages taking a moment to pause and experience the gifts that come with being alive.
Laura Buscemi is a multimedia illustrator and designer from the greater Boston area who enjoys introducing vibrant, surrealistic, and playful visuals into daily life. She received her BFA from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in 2024 and has been utilizing the quality of human touch in her work as she advances her career. Her ultimate goal is to restore the concept of human connection through her work in an appealing, fun, and engaging way.
I have been a working artist for about twenty years, since making the shift from writing and editing to visual art. I’m a former poet, but I remain interested in a lot of the same things: exploring layers of memory and using juxtaposition to create meaning in my work.
I began working with bird imagery when I first started to make art seriously. I find them to be endlessly fascinating, so familiar but also wild and unknowable. I have come to appreciate their strength as well as their fragility in the face of human impact and climate change. Many of my paintings feature starling murmurations, which are so beautiful in their shapes and movements and also kind of crazy when you think about how fast these masses of birds are able to fly without crashing into each other. I would love for people to stand before an expanse of birds, to see their wildness and beauty, and to be reminded that they are worth protecting.
Along with poetry, music is an important part of my practice as an artist. I have always loved to sing, and I listen to all kinds of music in the studio when I am working. Sometimes it’s a new artist and I listen to an album on repeat until I’m (almost) sick of it. Other times, I’ll play more of a wide range of songs and styles. I find that music grounds me in the moment, brings energy to the studio space, and helps connect me to my creativity. The idea of this piece is to wrap the piano with images of starlings, marrying the power and beauty of their acrobatic flying with the dips and soars and rhythms of music. It’s a love letter to creativity, whatever form it takes.
I am a mixed-media painter living and working in Concord, MA. My artwork has been featured at galleries and museums throughout the country and is held in private and corporate collections. I have curated several shows at Concord Art, where I am the head of the Exhibitions Committee and on the Board of Trustees. I love being a part of one of the oldest art non-profits in the country and playing an active role in Concord’s vibrant art community.
My design is inspired by centuries-old traditional South Indian art, symbolizing the reflection of the universe and our journey to discover beauty and knowledge within the transient nature of existence.
The central image evokes the harmony and rhythm we seek in everyday life—our shared connections—and honors the joy of being fully present. A hand-painted prayer on the piano, drawn from the spiritual texts of the Upanishads, serves as inspiration for the artist’s creative journey.
I plan to work with acrylic paint, layered with delicate monoprint paper created on gelli plates. These translucent layers will evoke the feel of vintage Indian silk, gently draped over the piano.
I am an artist based in Needham, MA, and I paint abstract mixed-media paintings that explore themes of spirituality and mindfulness.
Inspired by my mother’s ritual of creating rice flour mandalas, my work reflects the harmony and rhythm we seek in everyday life, our shared connections, and life’s impermanence.
Through spontaneous mark-making and the layering of forms, textures, and mixed materials, I transform inner chaos into calm, honoring the present moment with gratitude and grace.
This design translates the magic of a musical composition into a visual experience. Using color, negative space, and comforting natural textures, I have created a “visual score” that represents tempo, balance, and contrast. The goal is to provide a beautiful, inviting “journey” for every musician who sits down to play, bridging the gap between the visual world and the world of sound.
I am a designer/artist who studied fine art, had a long career as a graphic designer/art director in Boston and NYC. I am currently finding joy making art and designing colorful graphics for public spaces. I volunteer my design services in Bedford for several local organizations.
The concept I’m submitting was inspired by the undulating movement of water’s fluidity. Each panel will have a thick bold black outline. The water is meant to represent how music transcends all borders. Being colorblind, I find myself leaning greatly into bright, saturated colors for this design.
I am an artist living in Concord, Massachusetts. A former professional dancer based in LA, I’m now trying my hand at acting in community theater and other local productions. I find that my experience in both the visual arts and the performing arts greatly shapes how I approach each discipline.
Whether you’re a seasoned pianist, a CCM student, or someone who’s never touched a key, these pianos are for you.
Pianos on the Town is proud to be part of the town-wide Concord250 celebration. We are grateful for the vision and support that make this project possible.
Pianos on the Town is made possible through the collaboration of community leaders, volunteers, and our partners at Sing for Hope Piano(s). Together, we’re strengthening Concord’s cultural fabric—one piano at a time.
A special thank you to our Pianos on the Town Artist Selection Committee
Anne Mauk — West Concord Cultural District
Beth Williams — Town of Concord, Visitor and Tourism
Susan Zellmann-Rohrer — CCM Student
Lead Sponsor
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