About
Mission
Connect all Pittsburgh community members, regardless of age, musical experience, or ability, to make and enjoy music every summer solstice, while also encouraging further participation in music-making.
Vision
A city where all community members are enabled to make music and feel connected and supported in their musical engagement.
Make Music Day Pittsburgh
Make Music Day is designed to help with music exploration and to showcase local musical talent and inspire others to play music. Performers of all ages, levels, and styles of music are welcome.
This is the global celebration of music held annually on the summer solstice, announced that this year’s vast program will observe the festival’s 41st year and feature a full return to in-person events, with more than 5,000 live, free music-making events held nationwide on, June 21.
Strategic Goals 2020-2024
Encourage
- Encourage all Pittsburgh community members to make music
- Encourage community members to continue to make music beyond Make Music Day
- Increase the number of neighborhoods involved in MMDPGH
Connect
- Connect community music makers to the resources available in their neighborhoods
- Foster an inclusive and supportive environment that encourages all community members to make music
About Make Music Day
Originally started in France in 1982, Pittsburgh will be one of over 1,000 cities playing music on June 21, 2024, as part of a global Make Music Day celebration. Whether it’s Hip-Hop in Lawrenceville, Gospel in Highland Park, Bluegrass in Squirrel Hill, Classical in the Hill District, or kids rocking out on buckets at The Children’s Museum, Make Music Pittsburgh is about enjoying music in its purest form with Pittsburgh flare.
contact us at pittsburgh@makemusicday.org
Participate
Make Music Pittsburgh June 21st 2024.
Our Sign Up page IS OPEN! If you wish to volunteer to play, participate, support or if you are a venue, Sign Up Today!
We are always available to help, just email us!
Make Music Pittsburgh will fill the neighborhoods of Pittsburgh with music. We are eager to bring musicians and music lovers together again. To register as a performer or as a venue, please create a profile *** here*** or email pittsburgh@makemusicday.org.
We are also teaming up with several community spaces to introduce music education events as well as an instrument petting zoo. More details on our Map as well as postings on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/makemusicpittsburgh
Make Music Pittsburgh 2024 June 21st, is right around the corner!
Registration Information
Registration is OPEN at this time! Musicians and venues will be able to create a profile and register for venues and upcoming events***.
If you need help with equipment (PAs, microphones, etc.) please contact Make Music Pittsburgh’s staff via email at pittsburgh@makemusicday.org we are happy to help you find the tools you need!
Educational Music Events!
Free educational participatory music events in your area! These events are for anyone that wants to participate. Some age restrictions apply if listed. Please make sure to register for these great events that are free of charge! By registering you secure not only a spot in the class/event, but we can prepare better and make sure the participating sponsors have an accurate count as well!
Register for the following Great Events This Year!
Bucket Drumming at The WestView Hub Sponsored by Brighton Music Center and Vic Firth Drum Stick! (ALL AGES) Register here for this great event!
Free Ukulele Lessons, Strum and Jam to Taylor Swift at The WestView Hub Sponsored by Brighton Music Center! (Open to all ages but does have a recommendation for students with some experience playing the ukulele)
REGISTER UKULELE LESSONS TAYLOR SWIFT JAM!
String Together! FREE Guitar RESTRING Lessons and Free String Provided by Elixir String Company and Brighton Music Center Guitar Repair Techs. (PITTSBURGH LOCATION ONLY! Must Register for time slot appointment) String Together, a free acoustic guitar restring event on Make Music Day, returns in 2024 with the support of Elixir Strings. Elixir will support free restringing events in stores across the country and internationally. People register to have their guitar restrung for free, and to learn about restringing their instrument.
REGISTER HERE STRING TOGETHER!
MORE GREAT EVENTS/CLASSES TO COME! STAY TUNED!
Who else is taking part?
Over 24 artists, including:
Almost Exactly Like Julia -- Beaver County Symphonic Wind Ensemble Free Concert brought to by Brighton Music Center! -- Brian Junker -- Bucket Drumming for All Ages! -- Busking around Town New Brighton PA! -- Devin Russian -- Donna O -- Elizabeth Chase -- Free Ukulele Lessons and Strum to Taylor Swift Songs! -- Greater Pittsburgh Suzuki Institute, Community Music School -- Instrument Donation Drive Farina Foundation! Play It Forward! For the Kids! -- Instrument Petting Zoo for elementary age children! -- John Kloberdanz -- John Lecky -- Madeline Jo -- Melina Bowser -- No Shirt No Shoes No Band Name -- PAUL EISERT -- Something Under A Microscope -- Sousapalooza -- Steel City Ukuleles -- String Together A Restring and Eduction Event -- The Poor Souls -- Wojo
Over 14 venues, including:
Brighton Music Center New Brighton PA -- Brighton Music Center, Pittsburgh PA -- Church Brew Works -- Cousin's Lounge -- G's on Liberty -- Greenhouse Co-Op Cider and Plants -- Inner Groove Brewery ALLENTOWN TAPROOM! -- New Brighton Local Business- Buskers All Day -- Ruckus Cafe -- Schenley Plaza -- Stage 1011 Brighton Music Center New Brighton PA -- The Cafe at The Frick -- Townsend Park NEW BRIGHTON Pa -- West View Hub
Listings
2024 Listings: Friday, June 21st
Local Support Sponsors
Thanks to the support of our local business and partners! We could not do it with out you!
Volunteer and Donate
Music Ambassador Volunteer Program
A Music Ambassadors can be a high school or college student who is involved in any school music program that would like to help represent our community. This can be done by volunteering their time with Make Music Day Pittsburgh.This opportunity includes being part of special events virtually or at various locations around the area. Connect with local musicians to represent the best and brightest within the local music community. This person also identifies opportunities with area schools and other musicians. This is an amazing opportunity to get involved with the Pittsburgh Music Community and meet other like minded students and network.
This volunteer opportunity allows for help with hours needed for community service or for college majors and degrees that need to be completed with credits or graduation. Complete this form/link to sent a request. Google Form
Donate
All concerts are free and open to the public. That being said, your donations help make it possible.
If you would like to donate to Make Music Day Pittsburgh, please contact us.
Volunteer
Having people join our team increases the chances for further success for Make Music Day.
Complete this form/link to sent a request. Google Form
If you would like to donate, become a Music Ambassador or Volunteer on Make Music Day, please contact us at pittsburgh@makemusicday.org
Support Our Community
Make Music Day Virtual Food Drive
In order to continue to support our neighbors who are experiencing food insecurity during these difficult times, we are hosting a virtual food drive! For every $1 donated, the Food Bank can provide up to 5 meals for the children, families and seniors they serve across Southwestern PA. Thank you for your continued support!
#MySongIsYourSong
Join the global song swap for Make Music Day!
Learn a song by another artist and hear yours covered in return. Songwriters, composers and bands of all styles and walks of life are invited to participate!
Partners will be introduced by June 5th, carefully matched. This year, we’ll focus on far-flung pairings to connect you to musicians in new places. You’ll make their song your own, share a video of it on Instagram or YouTube June 21st, and use #MySongIsYourSong to join in the celebration!
We are also excited to announce special prizes for two lucky #MySongIsYourSong participants: They will receive prizes from Focusrite/Novation and Flight Ukulele. Also pair of songwriters will be selected at random to receive these prize bundles. To enter to win, just:
- Register using the form, below
- Receive your pairing with another songwriter
- Record your cover of their song
- Post it on Instagram or YouTube, and
- Send the link to catherine@makemusicday.org by midnight (New York time) on June 21, 2024.
Join the conversation following #MySongIsYourSong on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.
Monument Lighting
Special thanks to The Koppers Building, Federated and also the Gulf Tower from 2023.
Press
2020:
- Pittsburgh Post Gazette: What’s Happening in Pittsburgh
- Next Pittsburgh: 14 Things To Do This Weekend by Jenifer Baron
2019:
- Vox Culture : The Global Midsummer Musical Bash by Alissa Wilkinson
- Kidsburgh: Wanna Play On Your Drum All Day by Kristy Locklin
- Slippery Rock University: SRU Music Facultry and Students Team Together to Compose Youth Experience by Megan Bush
2017:
2016:
- Local Pittsburgh: Make Music Festival Brings PGH Musicians Out of Woodwork by Julianna Bagwell
- Pittsburgh Tribune Review: Pittsburgh Picks Up the Beat of Global Make Music Day by Rex Rutkoski
2015:
- Pittsburgh Post Gazette: Let the Music Play all day Sunday by Amy Brooks:
- Tribune Review: Outdoor Concerts to fill Pittsburgh with Music on Make Music Day by Rex Rutkoski
- Pittsburgh City Paper: This Sunday, the international Make Music festival comes to Pittsburgh by Margaret Welsh
- Pittsburgh Post Gazette: Make Music Pittsburgh – Call for Artists and Venues by Elizabeth Bloom
- 3-minute video of various concerts from 2015: edited by Tom Weber
*If you are interested in writing about Make Music Pittsburgh, please contact us at pittsburgh@makemusicday.org – and thank you!*
Photos from Past Events! Thanks to All of the Great Participants, Musicians, Venues and Performers!
These are some of our favorites from the last couple of years.
Contact
Make Music Day Pittsburgh has a rockin’ team! Thanks to these amazing people the events gets bigger every year. Interested in joining? Contact us at pittsburgh@makemusicday.org or fill out our Google Form
Advisory Committee
Brad Wittmer -President/Director
Emily Bovan
Music Ambassador
Bob Gally (Media Manager)
Beth Schiemer (New Brighton PA)
Music Helper Volunteer
Cody Wittmer
Veronica Wittmer
James Polen
Past Advisory Committee
André Solomon (Co-Director)
Michaela Kizershot White (Co-Director)
Mark Despotakis
Kateyln Clement
Aubrey Carpenter
Monica E. Soderman
Zoe Sorrell
Sondra E. Woodruff II
Past Volunteers
Jiashun Fang
Tom White
Sarah Schreck
Rachel Kingham
Kara Kulinski
Founder
Jasmine Kurjakovic
