The Dell Music Center in East Fairmount Park buzzed with excitement on Tuesday as approximately 1,000 children gathered for the second annual Philadelphia Youth Music Fest. The event showcased a diverse lineup of performances by young musicians representing over a dozen music organizations from across the city.
Matthew Kerr, founder of the youth music program Beyond the Bars, emphasized the importance of unity among community-based organizations that contribute significantly to Philadelphia’s youth culture.
“One of the joys of Philadelphia is we have so many amazing, community-based organizations doing really, really powerful work,” Kerr stated.
He expressed a desire to bring these organizations together to highlight the creative talent among young people, who often face negative stereotypes.
“There are young people all over our city organizing food drives, organizing music lessons, organizing the most beautiful, community-based things,” he said. “When you watch the nightly news and hear about violence in our city, you got to be hearing about the amazing love and community building that our young people are doing.”
The Village of Arts and Humanities, among about two dozen community programs participating in the festival, showcased the talents of its youth performers. A chorus from the North Philadelphia neighborhood arts program performed “Optimistic” by Sounds of Blackness, while Jour-nae Barnes, an artist instructor studying music education at Berklee College of Music, led the group.
“Teaching is something that I’m passionate about. Here at the village, it gives me that opportunity to teach and to apply the things that I’m learning,” said Barnes.
The festival has seen significant growth since its inaugural year at Venice Island in Manayunk, which attracted around 200 attendees. Moving to the larger Dell Music Center this year, the goal was to spur exponential growth, and the turnout proved successful, with many young people enjoying the event.
The festival took place on a weekday to accommodate recreation centers and day camps, resulting in 24 buses arriving with children eager to celebrate music.
Performances included a variety of acts: FamFrequency rappers, the School District of Philadelphia’s All-Star Marching Band, Rock to the Future students presenting a unique guitar rendition of Elle King’s hit “Ex’s & Oh’s,” and a dynamic performance by Nevaeh Fiers, a new Project 440 student who sang Sade’s “Smooth Operator.”
Beyond the music, the festival featured around 30 vendors who represented various services and opportunities for young individuals. Organizations like The Black Brain Campaign offered mental health resources, while literacy advocates from Come Read With Us encouraged youth to engage with reading.
Ronald Martin, known as Ron Da Barber, distributed free haircuts on-site, hoping to inspire young attendees to consider barbering as a potential career path.
“Come get a cut and go listen to music; this is one great event for all the youth,” he said. “I think we need to have more of this.”
Additionally, the festival presented opportunities for unstructured play, with children engaging in activities like playing fantasy board games and tossing a football on the green space at the Dell.
Kerr reiterated that the festival’s purpose transcends music alone.
“People need more than music. People need more than food. People need more than shelter. We need all these things,” he stated.
He underscored the essence of community support, stressing that when young people are provided with various forms of assistance, the entire community flourishes.
“That’s what community is. When young people are supported by all of these things, everyone thrives. It’s not rocket science,” Kerr concluded.
As the Philadelphia Youth Music Fest continues to grow, it highlights the importance of creativity, collaboration, and support for the youth of Philadelphia, encouraging them to shine brightly as they navigate their paths toward a positive future.
image source from：whyy
