duo526

duo526 artists Futaba Niekawa (piano) and Kerry DuWors (violin) started their Mozart in Public Spaces (MiPS) project in September 2016 to record live performances of the complete Mozart sonatas in conjunction with the “Play Me, I’m Yours” street pianos installations. Taking their passion for collaboration and performance to the streets, duo526 seeks to gain new perspectives, connect with communities, and challenge the conventional concert experience for Classical music and musicians.

​

Named after Mozart’s K. 526 sonata (the first work Niekawa and DuWors worked on as a duo in 2011), duo526 chose Mozart for their urban performances as it presents great musical challenges yet the most distinctive style of their Classical repertoire. Undertaking the complete cycle of Mozart’s 36 sonatas over the next several years will allow duo526 to travel to new places where the “Play Me, I’m Yours” street pianos will be installed, and cross paths with new audiences and artists. ​It's an experiment of what a couple of classical musicians experience in the streets: new people, different pianos, the elements and the joy of capturing whatever happens in the moment!

​

​

From www.streetpianos.com

Touring internationally since 2008, Play Me, I’m Yours is an artwork by British artist Luke Jerram. Reaching over 10 million people worldwide – more than 1,500 pianos have already been installed in over 50 cities across the globe, from London to New York, bearing the simple instruction “Play Me, I’m Yours”.

​

Located on streets, in public parks, markets and train stations the pianos are available for everyone to play and enjoy. “Play Me, I’m Yours” invites the public to engage with, activate and take ownership of their urban environment. Often decorated by local artists and community groups, the pianos create a place of exchange and an opportunity for people to connect.