New York City 2016

Sing for Hope celebrated the fifth anniversary of its legendary community arts program, The Sing for Hope Pianos, placing 50 artist-designed pianos in public spaces of NYC from June 9 - 19 2016.

To date, the Sing for Hope Pianos program has placed 286 public instruments throughout New York City, making the city host to more street pianos than any other in the world. Each year, Sing for Hope selects local and international artists to create unique piano artworks that are placed in parks and other public spaces for two weeks during the summer. Anyone and everyone is invited to play. 

This year, through a special partnership with the New York City Department of Education, Sing for Hope placed all of the Sing for Hope Pianos in permanent homes in NYC public schools after the pianos' time on the streets, benefiting thousands of New York City schoolchildren. 

“From the South Bronx and the Rockaways to Staten Island and Times Square, the Sing for Hope Pianos have become synonymous with summertime in New York City. We are thrilled to bring these pianos to life at 28 Liberty as we prepare to fill our city with music, art, and community for the fifth year,” said Sing for Hope Co-Founders Monica Yunus and Camille Zamora. “And we are delighted that, after their time in the parks, The 2016 Sing for Hope Pianos will go on to permanent homes in our city’s public schools, opening creative doorways for students for years to come.”

An icon of Lower Manhattan, 28 Liberty, a Fosun Property Holdings building, has provided a full 34,000-square-foot floor to serve as a communal studio for the artists designing the pianos. 

Sing for Hope celebrated the new Sing for Hope Pianos with a launch event at the iconic 28 Liberty Plaza on Monday, June 6, 2016 which featured international singing star and Tony Award® winning actress LEA SALONGA, iconic Late Night with David Lettermanbandleader PAUL SHAFFER, two-time Tony Award® and Drama Desk nominee DAPHNE RUBIN-VEGA, the dynamic piano duo ANDERSON & ROE, cast members from ON SITE OPERA’s acclaimed Figaro Trilogy, saxophonist/composer TED NASH/Presidential Suite, singer/songwriter PETE MULLER, rising stars Jessica Fishenfeld & Stephanie Lauricella from OPERA DIVA DRESS COLLECTION, MANHATTAN GIRLS CHORUS, and other leading players from the NYC music scene, including YOUNG MUSICIANS FROM SING FOR HOPE’S YOUTH PROGRAMS and our partner NYC public schools SPECIAL MUSIC SCHOOL. 

Sing for Hope will placed its 336th Sing for Hope Piano in New York City since the project’s 2010 debut, making NYC host to more street pianos than any other in the world.  As in previous years, celebrities have contributed their energy, talent, and time to design The 2016 Sing for Hope Pianos, including singer Jessie James Decker and her husband, Eric Decker of the New York Jets, Nathan Sykes (formerly of The Wanted), singer Greyson Chance, renowned photographer Bruce Weber, the cast of hit Broadway show Fun Home, and haute couture designer Georges Chakra. Artists and celebrities who have previously donated their time and talent to the Sing for Hope Pianos include fashion designers John Varvatos, Isaac Mizrahi, Kate Spade, and Diane Von Furstenberg; visual artists Julian Schnabel and Scott Taylor; and media mogul Arianna Huffington.

“We are thrilled to support Sing for Hope through The Sing for Hope Pianos! Music is a huge part of our lives and we have been blessed with all the tools we need to create and enjoy music with our family and fans. We are designing a Sing for Hope Piano on behalf of our foundation, the Eric and Jessie Decker Foundation, to bring music to those who don’t readily have access to it. We are excited to support this worthwhile cause and to donate our piano to a veteran’s charity in need,” said Eric and Jessie Decker.

The 2016 Sing for Hope Pianos were made possible in part by the support of Fosun International and 28 Liberty, and by Sing for Hope’s Founders Circle, including The Arnhold Foundation in loving memory of Sissy Arnhold, The Anna-Maria & Stephen Kellen Foundation, and Ann Ziff, and the GENEROSITY OF DONORS LIKE YOU.