Thousands of free online and in-person events took place up and down the country on 21st June to mark this year’s Make Music Day – the world’s largest annual celebration of music.

As part of the celebrations, Middlesbrough-based organisation Musinc hosted an all-day virtual event that showcased 21 performances from talented Tees Valley musicians.

Musinc collaborated with Redcar’s Tuned In!, Stockton’s Apollo Creative Studios and Tees Valley Music Service to bring a plethora of organised and pre-recorded performances, that was broadcast in a series of videos through social media on the day.

As the UK’s biggest single-day music festival, Make Music Day encourages musicians, producers, promoters and music lovers to collaborate and organise online and in-person performances in their communities.

Since beginning as Fête de la Musique in France in 1982, Make Music Day has grown into a global phenomenon that takes place annually in 125 countries.

James Lilly, Youth Activities Leader at Tuned In!, said:

“It was a fantastic opportunity to collaborate with Musinc on this event and have the young people from Tuned In! be a part of the youth planning committee too.

The diverse music performance programme has been a well needed celebration of music!”

Musicians from across the region submitted their videos to be included in the event.

Many of the performances were recorded at Musinc’s base of Middlesbrough Town Hall, featuring young people from their weekly music groups.

Make Music Day’s theme of ‘Bandstand’ inspired a drumming performance by two local schools and youth groups, who gathered at Albert Park’s bandstand in Middlesbrough.

Among featured performers on the day were pupils from the Middlesbrough Open Orchestra.

The orchestra is made up of pupils with Special Educational Needs and disabilities from Beverley School and Priory Woods school in Middlesbrough.

Some of the pieces they performed were writtern by the pupils themselves.

Open Orchestra is a national initiative led by Open Up Bristol, and aims to promote inclusion and equal opportunities for young people with disabilities to have the experience of playing in an orchestra.

Musinc Inclusion Manager Rebecca Johnson said:

“As our name suggests, our musical inclusion programme aims to address the inequity within music education, and ensure that all young people have the opportunity to make music.

For any young person, playing in an orchestra can be a magical and life changing experience, and this is true for young disabled people too, so they shouldn’t miss out because of their disabilities.

The open orchestra is a fantastic national programme and we are very proud to be part of it in Middlesbrough.”

 

The full playlist of recorded performances includes over 2 hours of content and is available to view on both of Musinc’s Facebook and Youtube profiles. Click here to visit the Make Music Day page to find out more and how to watch.