After a winter in hibernation the public piano will make its Okotoks Plaza premiere next week.

The piano will also be debuting its new paint job after Okotoks artist Danzel Carrasco was awarded the job when winning the inaugural Paint the Piano contest.

Culture and Heritage Specialist Andrea Spiers says the public piano is a great way to connect the community through music.

"Well public pianos have been appearing in other communities all through out North America in recent years and we just think that outdoor pianos help people connect to their communities through music and people just want to hang out where these places happen to be and we've chosen the plaza as a great gathering place downtown for people to come in and enjoy the piano."

Carrasco’s design is innovative, reflective of the community, bright and invites people to play the outdoor piano.

Spiers says they hope the design welcomes anyone and everyone to come down and tickle the ivories.

"It's for the public to come and play. It doesn't matter if you're someone like me who can only play chopsticks on it or if you're a professional pianist, just come and play. The piano is meant for anyone to play all summer long."

The revealing takes place May 25 at the Old Town Plaza at 11:15 a.m. and will be followed by the first of five plaza piano concerts planned, kicking off a summer filled with music.

For more information on the event visit okotoksculture.ca.

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