On July 15th, my fellow intern, Jennah, and I attended the Philly Youth Music Festival, a free concert which brought together young people from all around the Philadelphia area to dance, sing, and play in harmony. Organized by grantee Beyond the Bars, the event brings together students and music organizations from around the city.
Originally scheduled for a weekend, the event date was changed to a Tuesday in order to increase its accessibility by offering free bus services to summer camps. This careful attention to the needs of attendees was reflected in every element of the Festival’s organizing and proved to be a recipe for success, with over 1,000 local children in attendance.
During our time at The Presser Foundation, Jennah and I have researched barriers to music education access throughout the Greater Philadelphia Area, and have come to understand that a vast array of structural factors decide who in this city gets access to music education. Without intervention, these structures tend to bar local students of color, as well as economically disadvantaged Philadelphians, from many musical opportunities. But this event was a showcase of everything that community-based organizations are doing right: centering marginalized students in their programming, elevating their needs, and creating an environment in which their talent can be recognized.
Throughout the afternoon, we watched extremely skillful performances spanning a variety of genres and artforms. The All-Star Band of the Philadelphia School District filled the stage with wind, brass, and percussion musicians, their upbeat pieces and carefully choreographed motions drawing from HBCU marching band culture. A band from grantee Rock to the Future performed a powerful cover of “Ex’s and Ohs” by Elle King before playing their own original songs. My personal favorite performer, artist VALYNTiNE of Presser grantee FamFrequency Productions, performed a campy hyperpop number while channeling confident bio queen persona Monica Mauloni.
In addition to student acts, Philly Youth Music Fest offered performances by popular local musicians. When the event organizers announced Dejhha, a local rap artist popularized by her social media presence, kids cheered and ran to the stage, taking videos and interacting with her as she performed. Her set was equal parts energetic and solemn, closing with a heartfelt piece reflecting on the challenges facing North Philadelphia neighborhoods. When the other headliner, PGS Spence, arrived in front of the audience, the excitement only grew, with several students attempting to climb up and join him on stage. The show ended in high spirits, with performers and concertgoers dancing together as PGS Spence took photos with audience members.
The Music Fest’s connections with arts and community organizations, as well as their care in planning beyond just the musical acts, cultivated a healthy and safe environment for attendees. Piles and piles of pizza boxes sat underneath a tent, and every camper in attendance was given the opportunity to grab lunch. Free haircuts were provided by Ron Da Barber, and a small library was stationed by the front door, courtesy of Tree House Books. Young filmmakers from the 5 Shorts Project recorded every performance, gaining experience and allowing artists’ performances to be saved and publicized.
Whether they’re playing the clarinet, producing tracks in Logic, or dancing to their peers’ work, kids benefit from making and engaging with music. Philly Youth Music Fest gave local youth the opportunity to participate in the performing arts, to be leaders and collaborators, and to thrive in the spotlight. The concert’s strength was not just in creating an exciting performance for the most engaged audience members, but for cultivating an environment where attendees could dance, sing, eat, read, and connect with each other.
