Make Music Day started in 1982 in France (aka Fête de la Musique) and has grown to a world-wide celebration, which was most recently recognised on Saturday.
On brand for the global theme was the Gunnedah Conservatorium which worked in collaboration with the Multicultural Women’s Association (MWA) for its annual festival.
The conservatorium assisted by organising many of the musical artists representing cultures from around the world.
Among the acts was ALLY, which brought its Afro-Peruvian, Cuban, Afro-Brazilian and Andalusian traditional rhythms to the hall along with a Latin Music Workshop at the Gunnedah Conservatorium.
Among those also lined up for the festival were the Gunnedah’s Uke-Alypts and the high energy bops of DJ Shinta to greet guests entering the hall.
Gunnedah Conservatorium director Rebecca Ryan said the event was a great opportunity to collaborate.
“The Multicultural Festival harnesses such great energy in the community and the MWA do such a great job of putting it together,” she said.
“If we can come in to assist that and help grow it in some way, [we will].”
Rebecca said supporting the local music scene was important, but so was bringing visiting artists.
“We wanted to make sure that music was central to some of the day’s celebrations,” she said.
“Music is such a strong [characteristic] across all cultures.”
The conservatorium also assisted the MWA to close part of Chandos Street.
“It created more space and gave the day a bit more of a festival vibe,” Rebecca said.
“We did a lot of work with the committee to create a bit more of a flow around the town hall.”
Saturday’s events tied together nicely with the monthly
Gunnedah Country Markets open across the street at Wolseley Park and the festival in the town hall with workshops in the Smithurst Theatre next door.
ALLY at the Multicultural Festival on Saturday, encouraging the audience to dance.
