Sunset Piano in Golden Gate Park in Memory of Nina Elizabeth Nilssen

opus3web500Nina was a young San Franciscan Burner passionate about music, nature, human rights and education of all people. During her short life she composed beautiful, startling, personal and passionate music all while often traveling, engaging and interacting with people from around the world.

In the wake of the tragic and senseless murder which cut her life short at the age of 29, family and friends were committed to remembering Nina as the remarkable person she was, and to do it in a way that would make her proud. And so, the Nina Elizabeth Nilssen Scholarship Fund began in 2010 to support Nina’s love of the arts.

Nina’s fund has donated $1,000 to Sunset Piano to support a two-week event celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Botanical Gardens in San Francisco. The Burning Man Civic Arts Program is supporting the program with an additional $10,000.

From July 9-20, the Botanical Garden inside Golden Gate Park will partner with Sunset Piano to bring 12 pianos and a host of amazing performers to its idyllic settings. During this time a number of amazing musicians will play, as well as leaving the pianos open for anyone to play. The installation will last 12 days and will have at least one or two special “concert” days when folks can wander between pianos and experience different kinds of music in different botanical settings.

About the author: Jon Mitchell

Jon Mitchell

, a.k.a. Argus, was publisher of the Burning Man Journal, the Jackrabbit Speaks newsletter, and the Burning Man website from 2016 to 2019. He joined the Comm Team as a volunteer in 2010 and as year-round staff in 2014. He co-wrote a big story about spending 24 hours at the Temple of Juno in 2012. His first Burn was in 2008.

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