About

Welcome to Make Music Day South Africa!

It all started about 40 years ago in France. In 1982, Jack Lang and his staff at the Ministry of Culture began working toward creating a new kind of musical holiday. Their dream was to create a musical holiday where free, wonderful musical experiences were accessible to everyone.

The event took place on the summer solstice, June 21, and was Fête De La Musique. (In French, the name means both “festival of music” and “make music”.)

The Fête has turned into a true national holiday: Paris shuts down on the summer solstice and musicians take over. Almost 8% of the country (5 million people) have played an instrument or sung in public for the Fête de la Musique, and 64% of the country (43 million people) comes out each year to listen.

Unlike most formal music events Make Music Day is open to anyone. No matter your skill level or what kind of music you play, you are welcome!

At Make Music South Africa we are a group of people passionate about making and sharing music in all its forms. As such, we coordinate an annual celebration of all things musical. Our mission is to bring communities together through an annual musical celebration, fostering creativity, collaboration, and cultural exchange. Join us in celebrating the beauty and diversity of music in South Africa and around the world!

Music events can take place in a variety of settings, from a major concert hall to a home garden. Make Music Day South Africa welcomes musicking in all its diversity. We welcome musical contributions by amateur and professional musicians and organisations. The most important characteristic of a Make Music Day event is that it is free and accessible.

Participate

Make Music South Africa is a day where people of all ages and musical abilities come together to share their love of music, whether they are amateur or professional musicians, music enthusiasts, or simply fans of great music.

This year, we invite you to participate in Make Music Day South Africa and be a part of this worldwide celebration of music. No matter what genre you play or how experienced you are, everyone is welcome to join in the fun.

Whether you are a solo artist or part of a band, a choir member or an instrumentalist, there are endless ways to participate in Make Music Day. You can organise a performance in your school hall, church or garden, create opportunities for improvisation and musical play or upload and share recordings.

Come as you are
Share the music you love
Wherever you are

By participating in Make Music Day South Africa, you’ll be joining a community of music lovers from all over the world who share a passion for music and a desire to spread joy and happiness through the power of sound.

So what are you waiting for? Sign up now and start planning your Make Music Day South Africa experience. Let’s make some music together and celebrate the beauty of all things musical!

Register a Make Music Day event you can coordinate

Are you a solo artist who wants to organise a performance? Are you a school teacher or music facilitator who would like your ensemble to participate? Perhaps you are willing to organise a community sing, coffee or pub choir or home concert. Whatever you want to contribute it welcome! Click below to create and account and register your event.

Register your event today!

Support

Make Music South Africa is impossible without the support of our partners. We thank North-West University School of Music for their support in 2023.

If you are interested in becoming a Make Music South Africa partner please contact us here.

2024 Listings: Friday, June 21st

Press

Welcome to the press page of Make Music Day South Africa! We are thrilled to share the latest news and information about our annual event. .

Make Music Day South Africa is part of a global movement that takes place on June 21st every year, with hundreds of cities around the world hosting free, public music-making events of all styles and genres. Our mission is to encourage people of all ages and skill levels to make music and experience the joy and community that it brings.

On this page, you will find press releases, media coverage, and other resources that showcase the impact of Make Music Day South Africa and how we are transforming the cultural landscape of our country. You will also find information about interesting events hosted by our global partners. We welcome journalists, bloggers, and other members of the media to use these materials and to reach out to us for any inquiries or further information.

Thank you for your interest in Make Music Day South Africa, and we look forward to sharing the joy of music-making with you!