Kids’ Day of Music to focus on supporting local artists
Heights Kids’ Day of Music will bring local talent to Love Park for a free event from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 23.
Christi Gell, a resident of the Heights area, brought this festival to life by connecting different cultures, musical styles and local talent.
Gell has lived in the Heights for the past 20 years and teaches parent/ child music classes. Her passion for music has become embodied through the festival.
“You know I would really like to bring the families and community together through music, so the idea of the music festival just kind of came up,” said Gell.
Last year’s festival attendance had a more than 900 people showing up to the outdoor event.
Gell hopes for great weather and anticipates many more people will attend this year’s festival.
“This is a community focused event that differentiates from all other events,” said Gell. “It’s not just about getting kids engaged in music to sustain a lifetime love for it, but another part of our mission is to support local artists.”
The festival will feature two stages; the Main Stage, dedicated to the six local performing artists; and a secondary stage for local businesses and nonprofits to conduct classes and musical performances.
Main Stage artists include Lindsey Papion, Tickle, The Legacy Group, Yogi G + GenerAsian Radio, El Rectorado Del Son and AndyRoo and the AndyRooniverse.
Food also is available for purchase at the festival.
“I see it (the festival) as Christi Gell’s love letter to her neighborhood,” said Andrew Karnavas of AndyRoo.
“She has done a great job curating a diverse festival that highlights so many eclectic local businesses and entertainers. Houston is a land of gems and buried treasures.”
Karnavas will be a returning performer to the festival stage where he will be performing sounds of jazz, swing and early rock and roll.
“From the moment you pick up an instrument as a kid, you are a musician,” said Karnavas. “You discover that music gives you choices and you learn to make decisions … you learn use your voice.
“You learn to follow rules and how great it can sound when you break them.”
Children can participate in the “instrument petting zoo,” an interactive musical experience guided by ECHOrchestra, the Houston Pride Band and the Opera in The Heights orchestra. Children will also have the opportunity to meet opera singers at the “Singing Station” and participate in the different activity booths offered in the “Creative Zone.”
“Babies now are spending too much time on electronics,” said Carlos Santos-Nash, director of Cuban band El Rectorado del Son. “But by playing music at the festival we can show them how great music is and how important it is to hear and love instruments of different cultures.”
For more information on the event, go to www. heightskidsdayofmusic. com/