Make Music VT, June 21: The International Festival of Music in 7th Vermont Year!

Big Heavy World announces the annual international Make Music Day festival in Vermont: Make Music VT, June 21, 2022 in locations all over the state.

BURLINGTON May 26, 2022: Make Music Day is a celebration of music that began in France in 1982 as Fête de la Musique, a way to celebrate how music brings people together across historical, linguistic and cultural differences. Since then, it has blossomed into a global phenomenon, with tens of thousands of events occurring in 120 countries on every continent on every summer solstice. Seven years ago, Big Heavy World, Vermont’s de facto volunteer-run music office, brought Make Music Day to Vermont, a state with the population of a mid-sized American city. Vermont made history as the first full state to participate. In recent years 100 cities around the U.S. have signed on to create their own "Make Music" celebrations, each with hundreds of free concerts on June 21st that are free to audiences and open to all who wish to sign up and perform.

Big Heavy World and Vermonters are celebrating music and community this June 21. In locations from libraries to state parks, to gardens, clubs, living rooms, and in local TV and radio studios, Vermonters will enjoy a wide variety of music, parades, drum circles, heavy metal bands, classical duets and children playing instruments from found materials. Music will fill the air on Make Music Day from Bennington to Swanton and Brattleboro to Derby Line. Every church bell in Randolph will kick off Make Music VT on summer solstice day, June 21st, and ukulele squads will roam Burlington on bicycles. Find more information about artists and performance locations at bigheavyworld.com/makemusicvt, where musical artists in Vermont can also register their own free public performances.
 
Rik Palieri, who has hosted Make Music VT performances by traditional musicians at Kingsland Bay State Park for years, says, “Make Music VT is a celebration for all music lovers, both players and listeners. It is a great way to get people together through the power of music.” 

Telos Whitfield, pastor of All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in West Brattleboro is helping produce Make Music VT. She says, “We are inspired to be part of this wonderful and all-inclusive event. We have singers and musicians in our congregation of all ages and look forward to celebrating and singing together on June 21st. Music is a powerful force for healing, the common language that transcends all boundaries. As we live through these complicated times, we need the hope and joy that music brings.”

David Schein, Big Heavy World Associate Director and coordinator of Make Music VT, says, “We’re proud that Big Heavy World continues to link Vermont musicians and venues to the worldwide community that participates in international Make Music Day. Now more than ever, with wars raging and COVID separating us from each other, finding universal joy in being human is of paramount importance. Big Heavy World is dedicated to the principle that music builds community. It’s an opportunity for us all to find peace and to feel good about life, art, each other, and the state we live in!”
 
Make Music VT is made possible by the presenting sponsors Vermont Public Radio; Front Porch Forum; and the NAMM Foundation. It is also supported by Burlington Record Plant, the Vermont Department of Libraries; Vermont State Parks; Burlington City Arts; and Church Street Marketplace. This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. The volunteers of Big Heavy World coordinate the festival with Vermonters and institutions across the state. Media support is provided by 105.9FM The Radiator. 

For information contact David Schein, dafschein@bigheavyworld.com, (716) 640-4639.

Download a print-resolution image at https://bigheavyworld.com/press-images.

About Big Heavy World: Big Heavy World is an independent, nonprofit volunteer-run music office serving the state of Vermont. Founded in 1996, it has leveraged a technology-heavy D.I.Y. ethic and inclusive philosophy to support musicians and advance the music sector, preserve Vermont’s music legacy, and empower young adults in an environment that focuses their passions and intellect. The organization was selected by an international jury to receive the 2020 Music Cities ‘Best Global Music Office Award.’ Its programs are supported in 2022 by the National Endowment for the Arts; the Institute of Museum and Library Services; the USDA; U.S. Department of State; Vermont Arts Council and Vermont Humanities. bigheavyworld.com