Make Music Chicago, a completely free city-wide musical celebration under the helm of the International Music Foundation, is now accepting applications through June 1 from both musicians and venues to participate in the 7th annual Make Music Chicago which showcases a variety of music and brings live performance to Chicagoland neighborhoods and suburbs on June 21. Organized by Artistic Director and lauded pianist Kuang-Hao Huang, Make Music Chicago joins more than 750 cities around the world in celebrating the power of music and community as part of France’s Fête de la Musique, held annually on the Summer Solstice.
Interested musicians and location owners may attend an informational meeting about Make Music Chicago’s registration and matchmaking process on Tuesday, March 28 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. at Roosevelt University. For complete details and to RSVP, visit http://makemusicchicago.org.
Musicians of all types are welcome to perform on Make Music Chicago regardless of age, type of music or level of ability. Venues – from businesses to empty lots to parks – are needed so musicians have performance locations. Musicians and location owners may sign up for Make Music Chicago at http://makemusicchicago.org. Once signed up, musicians and venues can message one another through the Make Music Chicago website to jointly create performances in available spaces. Performances confirmed through the site will have their program included on the official schedule listed on the Make Music Chicago website and national Make Music Day app.
Make Music Chicago gives everyone the opportunity to make – and hear – music. Throughout the day, music-makers of all ages, abilities and musical tastes – amateurs and professionals alike – gather in Chicago’s public spaces to play and sing live music of all genres. On June 21, 2016, Make Music Chicago featured over 200 performances and participatory events across 100 locations in over 40 Chicago neighborhoods and suburbs from sunrise to sunset with performances at Millennium Park’s Wrigley Square, Maggie Daley Park and Pritzker Pavilion plus the Chicago Riverwalk, Chicago Symphony Center, Daley Plaza, Lyric Opera House, Lincoln Park Zoo, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Old Town School of Folk Music and over 30 Chicago Park District sites and many others.
Past Make Music Chicago highlights include free performances from Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Grant Park Orchestra and Lyric Opera’s Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center; a joint performance from Gaudete Brass and Axiom Brass; a special Rush Hour Concert with Grammy-award-winning violinist Augustin Hadelich; two-time Grammy Award-nominated Mexican folk musicians Sones de Mexico Ensemble; dozens of play-along events including a Father’s Day Smartphone Sing-A-Long, a Harmonica Blowout, featuring a bluegrass harmonica lesson and play-along for all ages with over 100 free harmonicas provided by Hohner, and the Rise and Shine Orchestra with members of Chicago Symphony Orchestra; and numerous family events including the Suzuki Play-along for kids and the return of Pianos in the Parks.
About Make Music Chicago
Celebrating the ability of everyone to make music, Make Music Chicago is completely free for musicians and audiences alike. It is inspired by Fête de la Musique, a national musical holiday in France. Since its inaugural year in 1982, Fête de la Musique has become an international phenomenon taking place every June 21. In the past, over 750 cities took part in 120 countries worldwide – including Germany, Italy, Egypt, Syria, Morocco, Australia, Vietnam, Congo, Cameroon, Fiji, Colombia, Chile, Nepal and Japan – easily making it the largest music event in the world. Make Music Chicago is part of a national group of “Make Music” cities that includes New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Seattle and Philadelphia. Make Music Chicago is presented by the International Music Foundation in partnership with the Chicago Park District.
About International Music Foundation
The International Music Foundation (IMF) is dedicated to presenting free high-quality classical music performances and music education experiences in the Chicago metropolitan area for people of all ages and degrees of musical awareness so they can experience how music enriches life. IMF offers the following programs and educational experiences: Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts, Do-It-Yourself Messiah, Live Music Now!, Make Music Chicago, Rush Hour Concerts Summer Series and professional ensemble educational residencies. For more information, visit www.imfchicago.org.
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