Tyler comes alive with sound during Make Music Day

Published 5:47 am Sunday, June 29, 2025

By Jennifer Scott

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Make Music Day in Tyler celebrates local music talent, with performances held at various venues across the city. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Tyler joined cities around the world Saturday in celebrating Make Music Day with dozens of free performances and community jam sessions popping up across the city.

“Make Music Day started in 1982 in France, and so this of course is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year,” said Stephanie Johnson, who is a member of Tyler’s of Make Music Day advisory board. “So it’s a way to get the community out making music and enjoying music performances.”

Following Tyler’s designation as a Texas Music Friendly City, the community has continued to build on its musical heritage. With an active advisory board working to engage residents, events such as Make Music Day — organized by Visit Tyler — serve to highlight the city’s vibrant music scene while promoting local artists and businesses.

“One thing that I discovered in the music advisory board is that we’re all different cogs of a wheel working separately,” Johnson said. “So we’re trying to bring those cogs together in unification and harmony and stop having where we’re all trying to do the same thing in different parts but come together and work together.”

Held annually on June 21, Make Music Day is a global celebration of music in all its forms, encouraging communities to turn public spaces into stages and invite everyone — from professionals to hobbyists — to perform. In Tyler, the day featured a mix of scheduled performances, pop-up concerts and interactive jam sessions at a variety of locations.

“I hope people will be in shock and awe of how much we have going on in the community on a daily basis,” Johnson said. “(Make Music Day) is just bringing awareness of what we have to offer… and I hope that continues.”



For Tay Lacy, Make Music Day was a good opportunity to bring her husband and their mothers to Bergfeld Park and take part in the bucket drumming.

“We wanted to just come out and enjoy this time with our family and get a taste of Tyler,” she said. “Music is a universal language and just brings everybody together.”

Unlike traditional concerts, the Sound of Art at Rose City Art & Gifts Gallery offered a more intimate and multisensory experience, combining music with visual art.

“There’s music happening all over the place in Tyler, lots of different venues and things going on,” said Diane Reis, president of the Palette of Roses Art League and gallery manager. “I think it’s a great opportunity and appreciate Visit Tyler jumping on the opportunity. Tyler is a great place to find music and art, so (Make Music Day) puts a spotlight on that.”

While visual arts capture the eye, and music stirs the soul, finding intersection between the two creates a unique and harmonious experience.

“Both can be so emotional and people connect with both with what they see and what they hear,” Reis said. “So, we wanted to blend the two together.”

The Rose City Art Gallery hosted Doug and Wilma Allgood, as well as Derrick White and Paul Jones.

“This is such a great partnership because Doug is both a musician and visual artist,” Reis said. “He shows how his music influences his artwork, with pieces that go beyond instruments to include music notes and other elements. These works offer insight into the creative process of someone who writes and composes music and can visually express that creativity, rather than just depicting a sheet of music.”

Make Music Day at Tyler also featured performances at The Villages at Cumberland Park fountain, where attendees enjoyed performances by Patrick James, Caden Crawford, Gary Hoerth, and Emily Glover.

True Vine Brewing Co. hosted Harmonies for Heroes, while Texas Music City Grill featured the sounds of Tylor Brandon. Meanwhile, ETX Brewing Co. welcomed Randy Morrison and Outlaw Republic, offering a mix of styles for the crowd.

Broadway Square Mall buzzed with energy as Barbara Cox, Kayla Herman with Kindermusik, a Boomwhacker demo with Shelly Davis Piano Studio, Lenny and the D, Paul “Dog” Nelson, and The Scrips took turns performing throughout the day.

Other venues throughout the city featured a rich variety of acts as well. Heather Nikole Harper performed at Mercados, Mouse and the Traps entertained guests at Manny’s Tex Mex Cafe, and David Allen & The Drifting Outlaws played at Fresh Grill + Patio. Gary Patrick Music filled The Grove with sound, while Gypsum & The Travelers played at The Loft Downtown Mall.

Mundt Music hosted a lively Piano Duet Flash Mob, and a piano recital took place at Prestige Estates Assisted Living.

About Jennifer Scott

Multimedia reporter and animal lover on the education beat. I am an Alabama native with a bachelor's in journalism from Troy University. I've been married to my college sweetheart since 2012, and we have enjoyed living in East Texas since moving up from the Houston area in 2021. We love all things Disney and dogs!

Please send me story ideas or questions to jennifer.scott@tylerpaper.com.

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