The City of Pleasanton will unveil the Don Lewis Harmonic Symphony on Thursday, June 4, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. at Delucchi Park, 4501 First Street, Pleasanton. The public artwork, Maestro and interactive musical pieces, honor Don Lewis, a pioneering electronic musician and inventor who called Pleasanton home for 35 years. The unveiling ceremony is free and open to the public.
Artist Blacksmith Anton Standteiner of Mountain Forge designed and handcrafted Maestro, an abstract sculptural centerpiece accompanied by interactive musical instruments designed for public participation. Maestro blends bronze, stainless steel and copper in tribute to Lewis’s signature style, even featuring his iconic red shoes and “LEO”, the Live Electric Orchestra device he invented.
Standteiner’s recent public art sculptures include The Band in San Francisco’s SOMA District on Mission Street, Persistence in Union City on Decoto Drive, Way Finding in Truckee’s new Dewbeyúmuwe Park, and FORGED in The Village at Palisades Tahoe.
The six musical elements: Aria Metallophone, Manta Ray Chime, Pagoda Bells, Lilypad Cymbals, Contrabass Chimes, and Harp invite visitors to create layered tones and collaborative musical experiences within the plaza.
“The Don Lewis Harmonic Symphony is a meaningful addition to Pleasanton’s public art collection, uniting commemorative sculpture, interactive instruments, and community participation,” said Rachel Prater, Recreation Manager for the City of Pleasanton. “It honors a remarkable artist who shaped the sound of modern music, and it invites every visitor to become part of the symphony themselves.”
Don Lewis (1941–2022) was an American vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and electronic engineer whose work helped shape the trajectory of modern music. He designed the Live Electronic Orchestra (LEO) in 1974, a groundbreaking integrated sound controller that predated MIDI technology by a decade. Lewis collaborated with Roland founder Ikutaro Kakehashi on iconic instruments, including the TR-808 drum machine, and worked as a sound designer and musician for artists including Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, and the Beach Boys. He lived in Pleasanton with his wife, Julie, for 35 years until his passing in 2022.
The project was initiated through a partnership between the Pleasanton Cultural Arts Council and Nancy and Gary Harrington’s Harrington Art Partnership Piece for You (H.A.P.P.Y.) program.
The Don Lewis Harmonic Symphony continues the legacy of Don Lewis and his lifelong belief in the transformative power of music. Community members are invited to join the City of Pleasanton on June 4, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. at Delucchi Park to experience the artwork firsthand and celebrate Lewis’s enduring contributions to music.