SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9
12 - 4 PM
Milwaukee Youth Arts Center
325 W Walnut Street, Milwaukee
​
ADMISSION: Free!
DREAM! DISCOVER! DO!
​CHECK IT OUT!
Join us for this fun event where families can meet and learn about all of the youth music organizations in our area, soak up some knowledge and fun in various workshops, join in on all sorts of activities, and listen to live performances by youth music organizations. We've got tons of fun planned for all ages!
​​
FEATURING:
• Resource Fair: CONNECT with area arts organizations to learn about opportunities for your kids.
• Instrument Petting Zoo: TRY your dream instruments with pros who play them.
• Star Stage: Highlighting larger YOUTH ENSEMBLES.
• Find Your Voice Stage: Highlighting smaller YOUTH ENSEMBLES and SOLOISTS.
• Drumming Den: Feel the BEAT with percussionist-led drum circles.
• Music Reading Round-Up: LEARN notes in a flash! Materials and instruments supplied.
• Tech Lab: Make your own MUSIC. Computers and software supplied.
• Creation Station: BUILD your own instrument from art. CREATE your own art out of instruments!
• BOOK NOOK: RELAX with stories and songs. Meet your favorite storybook characters Pet the Cat,
Clifford the Big Red Dog and Llama, Llama. Photo opps encouraged!
• Food Zone: ENJOY food & beverages available for purchase
You can be a part of this fun event!
The KIDS MUSICFEST 2025 brochures are "hot off the press!"
Take a look inside!
We had fun talking with Brian Kramp and Rob Haswell on Fox 6's Real Milwaukee. Take a look at what KIDS MUSICFEST has in store for you!
2025 EXHIBITORS
-
Brass Bell Music
-
CIVIC MUSIC MKE
-
Festival City Symphony
-
​Girls Rock MKE
-
Kids From Wisconsin
-
Ko-Thi Dance Company
-
Lakebeat Music Academy
-
Landmark Credit Union - KIDS MUSICFEST Presenting Sponsor
-
Milwaukee Jazz Institute
-
Milwaukee Public Schools Music Department
-
Milwaukee Repertory Theater
-
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
-
PianoArts of Wisconsin
-
School of Rock, Shorewood
-
TBEY Arts Center, Inc.
-
UWM Department of Music
-
Waukesha County Conservatory of Music
-
West Allis-West Milwaukee Shining Strings
-
Wisconsin Conservatory of Music
-
Wisconsin Intergenerational Orchestra
-
Wisconsin School Music Association
-
Xalaat Africa Drum and Dance for Life
2025 PERFORMERS
-
Festival City Symphony String Trio
-
Ko-Thi Dance Company's Ton Ko-Thi Youth Ensemble
-
Milwaukee Jazz Institute Student Ensemble
-
Milwaukee Repertory Theater's youth & teen vocal performers from MKE Rep Arts Camp
-
Piano Arts of Wisconsin presents the Wisconsin Piano Competition winner
-
School of Rock Shorewood presents the School of Rock House Band
-
UWM String Academy presents various ensembles and soloists
-
West Allis-West Milwaukee School District presents WAWM Shining Strings
-
Wisconsin Conservatory of Music presents a wide variety of ensembles under their roof
-
Wisconsin Intergenerational Orchestra String Quartet
-
Xalaat Africa Drum and Dance for Life Dance Ensemble
2025 SPONSORS
Presenting Sponsor:
LANDMARK CREDIT UNION
Presenting Sponsor for 2024 and 2025.
​​
​
​
​​Star Stage Sponsor:
Green Bay Packers Give Back
Star Stage Sponsor for 2024 & 2025
​​​
​
Instrument Petting Zoo:
White House of Music
Instrument Petting Zoo Presenter and Sponsor for 2024 & 2025
​​​
​
Food Zone Sponsor:
Baird | The Consiglio Osmanski Hienz Group
Food Zone Sponsor for 2024 & 2025
​
Supporting Sponsors:
Mary Henke
​
​Tom Miller
In memory of Galen Miller
​
Festival Foods​
FOUNDATION SUPPORT
We are grateful to Bader Philanthropies for its two-year grant that is making KIDS MUSICFEST possible in 2024 and 2025.
And just announced! We are pleased to welcome Herb Kohl Philanthropies as a supporter!
Additional support comes from these foundations that have supported KIDS MUSICFEST through grants awarded to our Youth Music Programs:
​
AptarGroup Charitable Foundation | Marjorie L. Christiansen Foundation
PPC Foundation | We Energies Foundation
from our Spring 2025 newsletter...
FIRST-EVER KIDS MUSICFEST STRIKES A CHORD
The first-ever KIDS MUSICFEST, created and produced by CIVIC MUSIC MKE, gave children from all over greater Milwaukee a rare opportunity to experience hands-on music-making, family fun, and energizing entertainment. It all happened Sunday, November 10, 2024 at the beautiful Milwaukee Youth Arts Center (MYAC), with more than 450 kids and adults in attendance. Enthusiastic board support, as well as the necessary funding from Bader Philanthropies to begin to build the event, made it all possible.
We’re already planning KIDS MUSICFEST year two, but first — here are just a few highlights from our inaugural event!
-
465 kids and adults attended
-
Seven performances brought two stages to life
-
Six break-out rooms overflowed with hands-on music experiences
-
21 exhibitors enthusiastically shared music opportunities for kids
-
And the generosity of seven fantastic sponsors, led by our generous Presenting Sponsor Landmark Credit Union, made it all possible
Here’s what families had to say:
-
“I loved the event. It’s a beautiful thing for children. It gives them a chance to explore something they probably would never get a chance to touch.”
-
“I really like the fact they can explore music, not just see it as something big people do.”
-
“We loved the performances and the hands-on experiences with the instruments. This is an awesome experience, and we thank all the sponsors for this opportunity.”
-
“I learned how to do the violin and the xylophone AND the drums!”
​
​
Exhibitors and sponsors are currently being gathered for the 2025 KIDS MUSICFEST. If you would like to participate in one of those capacities, click below to learn more!
CIVIC MUSIC MKE supports music education and provides performance
opportunities to young musicians in the Greater Milwaukee area.