Photos & Thanks: Make Music Day Across Vermont!

On June 21 Vermont historically joined more than 120 countries in simultaneously celebrating music across the landscape, participating for the first time in the annual international ’Make Music Day’ celebration on the summer solstice. Founded in France in 1982 as ‘Fête de la Musique,’ it was brought to Vermont as ‘Make Music VT’ by Big Heavy World. A free day-long public celebration of music in all its forms, Make Music VT encouraged Vermonters of all ages to join together and play at porches, sidewalks, stores, and stages. Make Music VT includes everyone from high school bands to marquee names, and people who have never touched an instrument, playing and learning alongside experienced musicians. Find stories about Make Music VT on WCAX News Channel 3 and Local 22. (Thank you, Tyler Dumont, Dom Amato, Rene Thibault, Senayit Tomlinson, and Dwight Ritcher!)

Big Heavy World sends thanks out to supporters of Make Music VT, including Burlington’s Church Street Marketplace and Fletcher Free Library, New City Galerie, the Caballbreaker music cooperative of central Vermont, the Vermont Creative Network at the Vermont Arts Council, Vermont State Parks, Advance Music Center, Burlington Dept. of Parks, Recreation Waterfront, Make Music Chattanooga, the Chattanooga Public Library, Hohner, Make Music NY, National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), Calamity & Crowe's Trading Post, Arts Riot, Burlington Telecom, and the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce.

A lot of very special people helped bring Make Music VT to life, including: Jinny Janesik, Jeff Crowe, Kira Bacon, Ann O'Connor, Senayit Tomlinson, Mary Barnett, Rochelle Skinner, Craig Whipple, Lucy Dartt, Aaron Friedman, Dave Ruder, Rubi Simon, Adam Brooks, Felix Wai, Jill Badolato, Steve Cook, Joseph Pensak, Ron Redmond, Jenny Morse, Sera Fleishman, Zon Eastes, Brian Dewey, Max Weltman, Marc Latzky, Gwendolyn Hallsmith, Dave Clark, Patrick Clemins, Taryn Balwinski, Abbie Tykocki, Jeremy Patrie, Eric Hill, Diana Wood, Jesse Bridges, Zach Niles, Tom Downey, Lucas Tabshey, Patrick Boccio, Catherine Mcauliffe, Andrew Peryer, Jeff Wheel, Mike Trombley, Mike Shirling, Cathy Resmer, Barbara Shatara, Jen Williams, Rik Palieri, Nicole Belanus, Kath Laing, Laura Cheney, Deana Mallory, Kieffer Jackson, Alex Crothers, Nick Vaden, Catherine Davis, and Gary Holloway. (If we somehow forgot to include someone in this note of thanks, you are still in our hearts, with gratitude!)

Here are the first photos of Make Music VT, collected from around Vermont — more to come!