Philadelphia Students Take Center Stage At 2026 All City Modern Band Jamfest On May 26th

PHILADELPHIA, PA – On May 26th, students in Modern Band ensembles from 12 Philadelphia public schools will showcase their musical talents alongside world-class professional musicians through performances of contemporary music ranging from rock to pop to hip hop. Taking place at Spruce Street Harbor Park, this celebration of student musicianship is a collaboration between Music Will, the nation’s largest nonprofit music education program, the School District of Philadelphia, the Music Performance Trust Fund (MPTF), and Philadelphia Local 77-274 of the American Federation of Musicians.

The students and teachers from these 12 schools represent the vibrant and growing music programs across the School District of Philadelphia. In addition to traditional music programming like band, choir, and orchestra, Modern Band has been a rapidly expanding movement, supported nationally by Music Will, to create opportunities for students to play the genres they know and love. Research shows that Modern Band programs lead to more students participating in music, students staying in music longer, and receiving more of the critical benefits connected to well-being and academic engagement.

During the May 26th JamFest, local professional musicians from Local 77-274 will provide direct mentorship and coaching to Music Will students, and will join them on stage to perform. This hands-on experience allows young musicians to learn from the city’s top professionals before taking the stage together. This partnership is supported by MPTF. “We are proud to partner with Music Will on this event and create new opportunities for students and communities to experience the power of live music,” said Greg Linn, MPTF Trustee. “Together, we share a commitment to expanding access to music education and ensuring that the next generation can learn, create, and connect through music.”

Philadelphia schools participating in the May 26th Jamfest include: Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush, Dobbins High School, Edison High School, Frankford High School, Franklin Learning Center, Lincoln High School, New Foundations Charter School, Parkway Northwest High School, Baldi Middle School, McCloskey School, AMY at James Martin Middle School, Meredith School, and Stanton School.

“We know that there are profound and lifelong benefits to being a music-maker. It’s an honor to support and celebrate the students, teachers, and music programs within Philadelphia. And we’re thrilled to be partnering with the School District of Philadelphia, MPTF, and Local 277-274 to make this JamFest a signature celebration for students across the city.”

The event will serve as a high-energy celebration of music education, community inclusion, and the power of mentorship. The May 26th JamFest is free and open to the public, taking place at Spruce Street Harbor Park located at 301 South Christopher Columbus Blvd.



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About Music Will

Music Will’s mission is to transform lives by transforming music education. Through its innovative modern band curriculum and a focus on aligning the music students learn in school with the music they have a personal connection to, Music Will expands student participation in school music programs and helps drive long-term academic, social, and emotional growth. Since 2002, the organization has provided teacher training, curriculum, and donated instruments to over 6,000 schools across all 50 states, reaching more than 1.8 million students to date, including more than 1 million students last year alone. 

The program’s roots go back to 1996, when Dave Wish, a classroom teacher in East Palo Alto, CA, began offering free guitar lessons to his students to fill the gap left by the absence of a music program at his school. What started in one elementary classroom has since grown into a national movement. By 2030, Music Will aims to reach 11 million students annually through its nationally scaled programming. 

About Music Performance Trust Fund

The recording industry’s Music Performance Trust Fund is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit public service organization whose mission is to support admission-free, live events performed by professional musicians throughout the United States and Canada. Recording companies including Sony Music, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group established the MPTF more than 75 years ago. We seek to enrich the lives of the public, young and old, through music, and to contribute to the public’s knowledge and appreciation of music. We seek to make music and music education an exciting experience, and to expand it to every child’s life experience. Interested parties may contact Samantha Ramos, Vice President of Grant Management, at sramos@musicpf.org

About Philadelphia Local 77-274

The Philadelphia Musicians’ Union Local 77-274 is one of the oldest continuing union affiliates of the American Federation of Labor (AFL). The Philadelphia Musical Society, now Local 77-274, was one of the original 26 local unions that made up the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) when it was chartered by the AFL in 1896. United in solidarity, we seek to organize and fight for the common interests of musicians in all aspects of our industry by advocating for fair wages and working conditions, and by opposing the forces of exploitation through collective action.