Concourse Concerto? New Program Provides Pianos to Passengers
Local nonprofit organization supplies pianos for passers-by to play, supports local artists
By Gina Mastrangelo
Published December 11, 2023
Read Time: 3 mins
Thanks to a local non-profit organization, visitors to Pittsburgh International Airport can practice their piano skills while they wait for bags or for their flight to board.
Free the Music Pittsburgh, a nonprofit group that places “gently used” pianos in public places for anyone to play, has planned to bring pianos to the airport since before the pandemic, which put a pause on the project. Now three hand-painted pianos grace the baggage claim and concourses at PIT – and they’re available for anyone to play.
Keny Marshall, the arts and culture manager at the airport, said the pianos will help create a sense of community and belonging at PIT.
“Art connects with people. The piano playing connects with people, and the airport is a good place of connection,” Marshall said. “Having the opportunity for people to open play the piano and learn to the play the piano is really important.”
Sewickley native Hudson Colletti founded Free the Music when he was 13 years old. The idea was sparked after a tr