An Overview of Make Music Day, 2023

Big Heavy World, Vermont’s volunteer-run music office, brought Make Music Day back to Vermont on June 21 for another year of inspiring live music across the state! Make Music Vermont is a chance for performers and event presenters everywhere to create a celebration of music that involves local artists, supporters of local music, and everyone who loves music in their lives. Big Heavy World reaches out to invite local communities into this inclusive, community-building event, to create music on every scale. From front porches to parks, the unique vision of each musician or community is brought to life in a spirit of sharing, with Big Heavy World making sure everyone is on the map.

More than 50 performances happened at 41 venues in 20 towns, as part of International “Make Music Day,” a celebration of music that began in France in 1982 as Fête de la Musique. Since then it has become a global phenomenon, with events occurring on every continent on every summer solstice. This year tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of musicians performed in 120 countries to celebrate how music brings people together.

Vermont played its musical part. From solo bagpipes at the Canadian border on Lake Memphremagog, to rock acts getting wild in City Hall Park, community bluegrass circles in Hyde Park, a fiddle orchestra on the statehouse lawn in Montpelier, classical music in Charlotte, shape note singing by Lake Champlain, and different song-writers, bands, solo instrumental musicians and choruses, Vermont performers offered an eclectic array of music throughout the state.

Siyang Chen performs during Make Music Vermont on the bricks of Church Street Marketplace in Burlington, Vermont.

Shebang performs during Make Music Vermont in St. Johnsbury, Vermont.

Music was played in Burlington, Bennington, Randolph, Springfield, Charlotte, St. Johnsbury, Middlebury, Newport, Hyde Park, Brattleboro, North Hero and other Vermont towns. In fields, streets, churches, town greens, and radio and TV stations music filled the air and visitors and community members enjoyed free performances as they gathered to listen and dance along.

Make Music Vermont was made possible with very generous support by Vermont Public, Front Porch Forum and the NAMM Foundation, who each value bringing Vermonters together!

Vince Freeman, who helped organize the day in Randolph, commented on the geniality of the occasion, saying, “Make Music Day in Randolph was a great success again this year. We had loads of musicians of varying genres performing all day long, from 10am to 10pm. It was wonderful to see downtown Randolph bustling with music lovers and to hear tunes coming from every corner, be it at one of our cafés, a gallery space, flower shop or concert venue. We are already making plans for next year and can't wait!”

Charlotte was another hot spot for the 8th annual Make Music Day in Vermont, as local musician and organizer Nick Carter reflects: “Charlotte brought together a fabulous range of local talent: Piano and cello duets, guitar duets and soloists, singer-songwriters, a jazz/pop/folk group and a bluegrass quartet. Many thanks to Lori York at Charlotte Senior Center and Margaret Woodruff at Charlotte Public Library for making available their two perfect community venues for our performers.”

The day was also a display of instrumental diversity. Siyang Chen, a recent graduate of the University of Vermont, played the guqin, a traditional Chinese string instrument, at Waterfront Park and on Church Street in Burlington. Chen says that “playing the guqin by the waterfront was amazing and gave me a sense of peace. People walking by were very encouraging and friendly, and I was so proud to show up with this unique Chinese instrument!”

Featured in the video above, Wayne Hankin chose to play the Highland bagpipes on Lake Memphremagog in Newport. “We had a nice evening for a sunset, so the timing worked out in my favor. Highland is a wonderful instrument. It’s perfect for outdoor moments like this.”

David Schein, director of Make Music Day in Vermont, is already gearing up for the 9th annual festival and will be planning for it months in advance. “Big Heavy World is already preparing for June 2024 when the solstice falls on a Friday. So watch out, Vermonters: We might go later than usual next year!”