I have never been to Coachella , but every year I find more joy than I can imagine ever having at one of these mega music fests strolling through Make Music New York on Summer Solstice. This year’s highlights: First, a group of Middle school students from WHIN Music Community Charter School performed for an audience of mostly pre-schoolers in the Children’s Magical Garden on the Lower East Side.  The toddlers enthusiastic comments after each song were a riot.

Next I saw a tribute to Billy Strayhorn by several groups of musicians in Freeman Plaza East.

And, finally I saw Wyatt McManus perform Broadway Show tunes in Bella Abzug Park.

I adore Taylor Swift, but I would rather see Wyatt McManus perform Sondheim among a dozen passersby in the canyon of Hudson Yards skyscrapers than be packed into an arena of sweaty swifties with iphones swaying wildly to catch a glimpse of the super songstress of West Reading PA.