Fri 6/21
For the past three years Make Music Cleveland has encouraged musicians from all Northeast Ohio to spend the summer solstice performing music everywhere from street corners and coffee shops to clubs and concert venues.
However, this year the event was in peril when its previous organizer decided to step away from the international celebration, which started more than 35 years ago as Make Music Day in France. Today, more than 1,000 cities around the globe participate.
That’s when Cleveland Orchestra bass player Henry Peyrebrune, who previously was involved in the project, decided to create the nonprofit Make Music Cleveland to keep the event alive.
“The more I get involved the more I realize how many other people are making music across the city,” said Make Music Cleveland executive director Peyrebrune. “This is a chance to put the spotlight on them. So this will be the fourth Make Music Cleveland. What’s different about this from all of the other great music festivals and presentations we have in Cleveland is that this is about participating.
“We’ll have things such as Sousapalooza, which is a concert band of local musicians, music lovers and amateurs performing at Edgewater Park. There’s also the Blue Water Chamber Orchestra playing Mozart and some others favorites at the Van Aiken market district.”
Other highlights include the CIM String Quartet at the State Theater lobby, a musical instrument petting zoo at Severance Hall, the Thor Platter Band at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and seven different lobby performances at the Cleveland Clinic.
For a full lineup of performances, as well as opportunities to perform or even host a venue, visit the event database.
“What’s special about this is that it really gives a chance to show what a great city for making music Cleveland is,” Peyrebrune said. “And it’s not just limited to the Cleveland Orchestra and the Rock Hall. There are thousands of people who are musicians in addition to whatever else happens in their daily lives.
“This gives them a chance to participate and gives them a chance for kids to participate and see that as well. So what’s exciting about it is that it’s everybody making music and it’s open to anyone. And, if you don’t want to make music, I hope you come out and listen to music.”
@MakeMusicCle