2025 Special Programs
Punk Island
Free, all-ages, all-DIY NYC punk festival Punk Island returns for its 17th annual edition on Saturday, June 8 on Randalls Island, from 11am-8pm, and they’ve revealed this year’s lineup. It has over 80 bands, including Couch Slut, Choked Up, Dog Date, Desert Sharks, Nihiloceros, Pinc Louds, RBNX, Rebelmatic, and lots more.
This will be Punk Island’s second year in a row back on Randalls Island, and this year’s edition will happen over six stages.
Mass Appeal: Harmonicas
Harmonica virtuoso Jiayi He (teacher at Brooklyn Music School, contestant on America's Got Talent) will again lead lessons and the concert. Mass Appeal Harmonicas is a group play-along for harmonica players of all ages and skill levels; a perfect program for beginners and kids! Just show up at the south steps of Union Square between 11am - 12:30 pm on Saturday June 21st 2025 to participate. Mark your calendar, but no RSVP required.
Limited free Hohner harmonicas will be available to participants on a first-come, first-served basis! For questions, please email Jiayi at: HarmonicaDay@gmail.com.
Porch Stomp
Porch Stomp is a vibrant celebration of traditional and contemporary folk music and dance, set on Governors Island off the lower tip of Manhattan, against the iconic backdrop of the city skyline. The free annual festival brings together an eclectic lineup of musicians, who perform on charming porches and pop-stages scattered throughout the island. Attendees can immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of folk music styles, from bluegrass to Americana, while soaking in the laid-back, community atmosphere. With workshops, jam sessions, and opportunities for spontaneous collaboration, Porch Stomp fosters a sense of kinship among musicians and audience members alike, making it a cherished gathering for folk music enthusiasts from all walks of life.
Since its inception in 2014, Porch Stomp has been a staple event of the NYC folk scene. The event serves as a free access point for all to engage with, learn from, and enjoy the musical heritage of folk music, and the organization has branded and promoted itself as a welcoming point of entry for all who are seeking connection with this music, from rank beginners to seasoned professionals.
The 12th Annual Porch Stomp will take place on Governors Island from 11am-6pm on June 21st, 2025! Porch Stomp is not a ticketed event – audience members simply get on a ferry from Brooklyn or lower Manhattan and ride to the Island. Porch Stomp 2025 will feature 15-18 stages, hosted by different NYC folk music organizations. Each stage is booked by its respective stage host – Porch Stomp does not do any booking. To apply to play Porch Stomp 2025, artists can fill out the artist application, linked HERE. The application responses will be filtered to our stage hosts, who will reach out to artists they’d like to book. The artist application deadline is May 31st, and the deadline for stage hosts to book their stages is June 9th.
If you don’t get booked to play Porch Stomp 2025, fear not! There are plenty of opportunities to participate in the festival, including an open mic stage and multiple open jams. Bring your instrument and come have some fun! You can also support Porch Stomp by signing up HERE for a two hour day of event volunteer shift. All volunteers get a free, special-edition Porch Stomp 2025 tee shirt!
Sousapalooza
Join us for the return of the beloved Sousapalooza, a lively, participatory concert celebrating the iconic marches of John Philip Sousa. Brass, woodwind, and percussion players of all skill levels are invited to sight-read and perform together in this joyful pop-up event, conducted by Oscar Wiley Thorp.
Interested in playing? Register here to receive call time and sheet music links.
Please print your own parts in advance: Sousapalooza Scores
24-Hour Sing for the Earth
Make Music New York and Gaia Music Collective are excited to partner on our first ever “24-Hour Sing for the Earth” circle singing program. Inspired by the tradition of Bobby McFerrin's Unbroken Circle, we will gather singers for 24 hours of nonstop music-making in honor of our planet, including circle singing, improvisation, participatory performances, music games, dancing, and whatever else we can think of to keep the song spinning.
The power of this celebration lies in the people we gather and the music we make, so we invite and encourage you to be a part of it by visiting our Dojiggy registration page: 24-Hour Sing for the Earth.
The program is free for all interested singers, though we invite participants to take part in our "sing-a-thon" pledge system to raise money for the planet during the registration process. 100% of the proceeds from our singers will go to support charities doing conservation and environmental justice work: GrowNYC, The American Indian Community House, and Rainforest Foundation US.
The special project will be led by Featured Facilitating Artists from Gaia as well as invited artists from around the world (US, India, Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, England, Haiti, Italy, Ireland and Colombia) including:
- Guillermo Rozenthuler
- Kenter Davies
- Matt Goldstein
- Tracy Robertson
- Zahara
- Simi Yuyu
- Sofia Campoamor
- Sofia Ribeiro
- Tiago Grade
- Zuza Goncalves
Over forty additional Special Guests will step into the circle for surprise featured moments to help us keep the song spinning, including:
- Circle Song Facilitators
- Song Leaders
- Gaia Community Members
- Recording Artists
- Improvisers
- Instrumentalists
- Dancers
- Visual Artists
- And, mostly importantly — YOU! Sign up here!
We hope you're able to join us for what is sure to be an unforgettable communal experience to celebrate music making and the summer solstice!
This program is support in part by the Cheswatyr Foundation, a New York-based charitable organization dedicated to the development of creative contemporary music. Special thanks for in-kind support from Whole Foods and Viewcy.
More About Gaia Music Collective
Gaia Music Collective is an NYC-based creative community seeking to foster a more connected world through collective music-making. Founded in June of 2021 by Matt Goldstein in a living room in Brooklyn, this project was born out of a desire to create accessible, inclusive, playful spaces for people to explore connection, expression, healing, and release through collaborative song - spaces where folks feel empowered to make music free of judgment or expectation, and to make new friends as our full, beautiful, authentic selves.
We believe that communal music-making is a fundamental human practice, and this project seeks to build spaces for folks to nurture their relationship to music and foster deeper connection to themselves, each other, and the world around us. All are welcome in this community: all ages, races, genders, sexual orientations, classes, religions, abilities, national origins, languages, and musical experiences. All we ask is that you bring an open mind, a desire to connect, and a willingness to leave judgment of self and others at the door.
Waterway Horns
“Waterway Horns” is a singular artistic inititiative commissioned and designed by Make Music New York to spotlight NYC’s vital public waterfront gathering spaces through the power of music. This Special Project will make its debut as the premier program of our annual music festival to be held on the summer sosltice, June 21, 2025.
In partnership with the non-profit Tideland Institute, the Shoefly tugboat has been out-fitted with a custom-designed Wurlitzer organ, as well as salvaged and refursbished ship horns and bells, to broadcast a new composition that will literally (and littorally) activate the East River tidal estuary with a waterborne music spectacle audiable and viewable from dozens of shorefonts across Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens.
The score amplifiedf rom the Shoefly will be complemented by live brass and horn performances at several key “stages” along its route: the East River Promenade at 10th Street (East Village, MN); Pier 17 (Financial District, MN);Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Granite Prospect (Brooklyn Heights, BK);WNYC Transmitter Park (Greenpoint, BK); and Hunter’s Point South Park (Long Island City, QN). These live programs will be led by the specially assembled Landlubber Ensemble, under the direction of acclaimed com-poser/musician Stefan Zeniuk, in a dynamic and integrated call and response fashion. And in keeping with Make Music’s participatory ethos, the Landlubbers will invite and welcome additional professional and amateur ensembles and horn players through an open registration process.
The Mp3 Experiment 20
Now in its 20th year, The Mp3 Experiment is a participatory audio adventure where attendees use a smartphone app to listen to synchronized secret instructions in a public space via headphones.
It's just about the most fun thing you can do with a crowd of thousands of strangers, so register to participate in this unique spectacle at RSVP on Partiful to receive updates and so we can text you last minute info (like if there is a rain delay).
We will release the complete details including exact starting locations and downloadable app information a couple of days before the event to all who have RSVPed.
This program, as always, is free and open to all ages, so spread the word!
More About Improv Everywhere
Improv Everywhere is comedian and director Charlie Todd‘s decades-long project to bring extraordinary moments of surprise and delight to ordinary places. Based in New York City but producing projects around the world, Improv Everywhere pioneered large-scale surprise public performances, long before anyone had heard of the term “flash mob.”
More about the Hudson River Park Trust
In 1998, New York State passed a new law that established the Hudson River Park Trust (the “Trust”) to design, build, operate and maintain a new public park and estuarine sanctuary in and along several miles of the Manhattan shoreline. The Trust employs a focused, diverse staff with experience in parks, design, marine science, public programming, finance, public policy, operations, security, management and maintenance. Pursuant to its mandate, the Trust also works closely with community boards, elected officials and a multitude of civic and non-profit partners as well as the business community to advance the Park mission.
Street Motet No. 1
Sacred architecture will meet sacred sounds when the Cathedral of St. John the divine welcomes Make Music New York and the highly acclaimed “Street Motet No.1” written by the award-winning composer Pete Wyer.
Blending choral music, synchronized polyphonic technology and lyrics based upon the Metta prayer, choir members will proceed in small ensembles throughout the Upper West Side, Central Park, Riverside Park, and Harlem. The choir members all begin singing at the exact same moment and walk routes that gradually connect until they end up as one large choir at the cathedral of St. John the Divine.
Call times: Volunteers at 1:30pm, Singers at 1:45pm
Outdoor Mobile Performances: 2:15-3:00pm
Finale at the Cathedral: 3:00-3:20pm Free to the public with the purchase of a general admission ticket
Singers and Choirs: Click the button below to register your interest.
Confirmations and additional information will be provided after you have submitted your registration form. Join the Street Motet Ensemble
Interested in participating but not a singer? We also need dozens of volunteers to help shepherd and film the singers! Be a shepard
We are going to select 12 locations in different directions that are equidistant from St. John the Divine. That gives us some really nice routes through Central Park, u/down the Hudson etc Our volunteers will be asked to be at their start locations from 1:30pm, our singers at latest by 2:00pm
Our count in will take place at 2:20pm - We will ask a singer from each group to count in with me (connected via zoom) so that everyone hit's 'play' at the same time (this does mean that everyone needs to be well briefed before getting there)
Once the playback starts, singing will begin almost immediately and the singers will follow their pre-marked routes, guided by shepherds, they'll sing:
2:20 - 2:30
2:35 - 3:45
2:50 - 3:00
Mass Appeal: Kalimbas
Join us on The Summer Solstice for the Kalimba/Mbira Magic Unity gathering at The Farley Steps hosted by Make Music New York with mbira/kalimba maestro Kevin Nathaniel. Bring your own kalimba, hopefully tuned in either F or C maj. We will also be in collaboration with We Play Well Together, who will provide extra kalimbas. This event promises to be huge fun and a great way to connect with NYC's immense kalimba/mbira community.
We will meet at 3pm on The Farley Steps.
Mass Appeal: Guitars
Mass Appeal Guitars: Guitarists Unite and Perform Songs Of Awesome in Union Square NYC on Saturday, June 21. In Association with Union Square Partnership and Make Music New York, hosted and sponsored by NYC Guitar School.
JOIN A MASSIVE GUITAR JAM IN UNION SQUARE
SCHEDULE:
4:00-5:00 tutorials and open small group jams.
5:00 gather on the steps of Union Square South for a mass play and sing along. HAVE FUN!
5:30 hang out and enjoy live music from awesome local bands *TBA* and/or return to the city we love with the flame of awesome burning within you!
TO JOIN:
STEP ONE: RSVP for the play along: https://www.meetup.com/mass-appeal-guitars/events/307443647/
STEP TWO: LEARN TO PLAY OR SING ONE OR MORE OF THE BEGINNER FRIENDLY SONGS. Check out the ONE PAGE CHEAT SHEET OF AWESOMENESS to get started with super-broken-down-simple-versions of the songs.
2025 SONGS
1. "La Bamba" – Ritchie Valens
2. "Valerie" – Amy Winehouse
3. "Seven Nation Army" – The White Stripes
4. "Dreams" – Fleetwood Mac
5. "Hey Ya!" – Outkast
6. "City of Immigrants" – Steve Earle
STEP THREE: Show up to Union Square Park South by the steps on Saturday, June 21st anytime starting at 4:00 pm to practice--there will be separate areas for each of the songs, plus one-on-one lessons will be available for absolute beginners. You can practice all or just some of the songs...Then we play EN MASSE at 5:00 pm! There will be room for about 120 people on the steps...you can also bring your own chair or guitar strap to play standing up.
Check in at the welcome table near the steps to pick up song charts and enter a drawing for prizes like 3 months of guitar classes, T-shirts, and more.
Bring your guitar, uke or other instrument. Electric guitarists and bassists are welcome to bring battery powered amps (no supplied power is available.)
Bring water, sunscreen, a hat or whatever it takes to be comfy. And keep in mind that Union Square is a crowded urban park-we recommend gig bags with name tags to avoid confusion.
Questions? Want to volunteer? Want to bring a group? Message us!
Mass Appeal: Cellos
Cellists of the Violoncello Society of New York will perform music for cellos by J.S. Bach, Kate Dillingham, Antonin Dvorak, Florence Price, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Kaija Saariaho, and more at 4pm.
From 5:00pm - 5:30pm, there is a play along for cellists of all ages and levels to participate. Please arrive at The Hugh Plaza by 4:45pm to join.
RSVP is required for the 5:00pm play along, to ensure we have enough chairs for all cellists planning on joining. Sheet music for the play along can be sent beforehand upon request.
Please RSVP here by Sunday, June 15, 2025 at 11:59PM: https://forms.gle/SBMvUfk1Dbwek2yM6
Questions? Please email Mosa at: vcstreasurer@vcsnewyork.org
For more info about Violoncello Society of New York, please visit: https://www.vcsnewyork.org/
Mozart's Requiem
On June 21, as part of Make Music New York's 19th annual celebration, conductor Douglas Anderson and producer Melissa Gerstein will once again collaborate to present "Mozart's Requiem." Though the circumstances surrounding Mozart's unfinished Requiem remain mysterious, the music's profound beauty and emotional depth continue to resonate across centuries. Singers and musicians will gather at the 601 Lexington Avenue Plaza (NE corner at E 53rd St.) on June 21 at 7 pm to perform this masterpiece.
Vocalists and instrumentalists are invited to bring their own scores and parts. Music is available to download online, and limited copies will be provided during the performance.
Information below details how to:
Register for the event
Download PDF scores
Practice vocal parts with online resources
For more information and to register: Contact mmnymozart@gmail.com to register and please add your voice part (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass, Instrument, etc) to your note.
Vocal Scores and Preparation
Feel free to use your own score and part to participate. If you need to find and print out a score, any edition of the Sussmayer standard version will suffice. To download one, go to: http://imslp.org/wiki/Requiem_in_D_minor%2C_K.626_(Mozart%2C_Wolfgang_Amadeus)
Scroll down to where it shows ‘Sheet Music’, click on the ‘Vocal scores’ tab, and choose a score. Pay attention to the font size and clarity of the score in your search, as these vary widely. The languages of the accompanying notes also vary. We will be singing in the original Latin, which most scores have.
To Practice the vocal parts on your own, visit Cyberbass! at: http://www.cyberbass.com/Major_Works/Mozart_W_A/mozart_KV626_requiem.htm
Remember, the tempos for the live performance may vary somewhat from the online version.
Orchestra Scores and Preparation
Orchestra Instrumentation
The Requiem is scored for 2 clarinets (or basset horns), 2 bassoons, 2 trumpets in D, 3 trombones (alto, tenor, and bass), timpani (2 drums), first and second violins, violas, cellos, double basses, and organ. Instrumentalists who play instruments that are not included in Mozart’s orchestra are also invited; they will have to choose a part appropriate to their instrument and adapt (transpose, etc.) it so it will work in the performance.
Instrumental Parts:
To find the instrumental parts for this performance of Mozart’s Requiem, go to imslp.org with this link: http://imslp.org/wiki/Requiem_in_D_minor%2C_K.626_(Mozart%2C_Wolfgang_Amadeus)
Scroll down to where it shows ‘Sheet Music,’ click on the ‘Parts’ tab, and (important!) go to the second set of parts (Leipzig: Breitkopf und Härtel, n.d.(ca.1890) ), click on the list of instruments, select the part you need, and print out the PDF of the part.
Use #MozartRequiemMMNY to get the word out to your friends and colleagues!
Gamelan Fest: Dharma Swara x Yowana Sari
Join two NYC gamelans for a GAMELAN FEST at Fort Greene Park! This “battle of the bands” solstice celebration will be part of NYC’s free, outdoor music festival by the people for the people on June 21st - MAKE MUSIC NY.