On June 21, the longest day of the year, Make Music Day returns to Yonkers with a day full of musical activities for Yonkersites to enjoy. All events are free and open to the public, and designed to have everyone making music together throughout the day.
Anchoring the Fourth Annual Make Music Yonkers (MMY), Yonkers Public Library (YPL) will offer a range of events at its three branches including musical performances, lessons, giveaways, and more. This year, the event has expanded well beyond the library, featuring partners around the city including Ridge Hill and Yonkers Downtown Waterfront BID.
“Music is part of Yonkers’ past, present, and future,” said Mayor Mike Spano, ”What better way to celebrate our city, than by joining together to make music!” The Foundation for the Yonkers Public Library (FYPL) is again sponsoring the event. “The joy of this event is getting everyone to make music,” said Nancy Maron, president of the Foundation for the Yonkers Public Library.
“YPL is dedicated to supporting the city’s thriving arts and culture scene, and hosting fun and free musical performances is a great way to do so. We’re excited to offer events at all three locations this year.” said Jesse Montero, Yonkers Library Director.
Beyond the programmed events, people of all ages and levels of music ability are encouraged to go outside and make music of their own, whether from their front lawns or at local venues. To see the full event listing, visit: https://www.makemusicday.org/yonkers/listings/
Featured Events include:
Crestwood Library, 16 Thompson St
4:00 – 5:45 pm A Jazz Combo & Friends of Crestwood Library
Friends of Crestwood Library welcome the return of A Jazz Ensemble. Join us on the patio outside weather permitting, otherwise we will be inside!
Grinton I. Will Library, 1500 Central Park Ave
- 11 am – 12:15 pm The Rise of the Singer/Songwriter
Keith Crocker presents an interactive session on one of the greatest phenomena of the 1960s & 70s was the rise and popularity of the singer songwriter. Clips and discussions on Gordon Lightfoot, Cat Stevens, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and so much more!
- 11:15 – 11:45 am Robert the Guitar Guy
Music and movement live with Robert the Guitar Guy, an award-winning children’s performer, delivering an exciting interactive experience.
- 3:45 – 4:30 pm Celebrate Make Music Day with Zev
Kids and parents alike will enjoy family music, dancing, and instruments with award winning songwriter and performer Zev Haber.
- 2:30 – 3:30pm Through the Decades Musical Performance
Join Francine Evans & Joel Zelnik on this musical journey through the years featuring music from the 1900’s through the 2000’s including soul, swing, Motown, disco, ragtime, Sinatra, Glen Miller, Elvis and more! Sing along and dance to your favorites!
Ridge Hill Mall, 45 Fitzgerald St
6:00 – 8:00 pm Music On The Hill Concert Series Ft Cocomama
Start your weekend unwinding with Latin Night, an all female Salsa band.
Riverfront Library, 1 Larkin Center
- 3:30 – 4:30 pm Bubbler the Silly Entertainer
Bubbles the Silly Entertainer will have you and your entire family dancing, moving, and grooving into Summer Reading!
- 4:45 – 6:00 pm Performance and Drumming Lesson, In front of Riverfront Library
Join the Drum Corps! The Marching Cobras – a youth drumline – will lead a thrilling drumming lesson and performance on June 21, right outside the Riverfront Library. Thanks to Vic Firth Drumsticks and the Make Music Alliance, we will provide FREE drumsticks to attendees while supplies last.
Yonkers Waterfront Amphitheater, 71 Water Grant St
6:30 – 8:00 pm Yonkers Waterfront Live Concert Series Ft Maiya Sykes
NBC’s The Voice Star brings down home delta blues, funk, rock and pop.
Come see a show or host your own!
Potential venues can be anything from a stage to a front porch! Venues and musicians can find each other via the matching making site. Events are still being scheduled and the full listing will be available here: makemusicday.org/yonkers/.
- To find a Make Music Yonkers event to attend on June 21st, visit listings here: makemusicday.org/yonkers/ Events will be added as they are confirmed.
- To add YOUR music-making event to our listings for June 21, enter details via the Make Music Day website here: https://matching.makemusicday.org/
- Musicians seeking a venue and venues open to hosting performances can find each other via the Make Music Day website, here: https://matching.makemusicday.org
Make Music Yonkers is co-sponsored by the Yonkers Public Library and the Foundation for the Yonkers Public Library.
About Make Music Day
Make Music Day is a free celebration of music around the world on June 21st. Launched in 1982 in France as the Fête de la Musique, it is now held on the same day in more than 1,000 cities in 120 countries. Completely different from a typical music festival, Make Music Day is open to anyone who wants to take part. Every kind of musician — young and old, amateur and professional, of every musical persuasion — pours onto streets, parks, plazas, and porches to share their music with friends, neighbors, and strangers. All of it is free and open to the public. https://www.makemusicday.org/
About Yonkers Public Library
Yonkers Public Library is the largest library in Westchester County. It consists of three locations: Riverfront Library, our main branch, in downtown Yonkers, the Grinton I. Will Library on Central Avenue, and the Crestwood Library in the Crestwood section of the city. Our mission is to change lives every day. Our expert, trusted staff help all the people of Yonkers find the information they need, the programs they enjoy, and the reading they love. For more information about Yonkers Public Library, visit www.ypl.org.
About Foundation For Yonkers Public Library
The Foundation for the Yonkers Public Library is an independent not-for-profit organization, created in 2017 by the trustees and administrators of YPL as a means to actively support and enrich the programming, spaces, and collections of the Library. The Foundation, through its fundraising efforts, has funded several major library initiatives including 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, Teacher in the Library, and many more. www.foundationforypl.org
