Take Part in This Walkable, Open Brooklyn Music Festival

Brooklyn Conservatory of Music will host its sixth annual Open Stages festival on Saturday, May 9, bringing a neighborhood-wide celebration of live music to more than 15 stages across Park Slope.

Performances will take place on stoops, sidewalks, playgrounds and in local cafes, transforming the neighborhood into a walkable, open-air venue. The event is free and also serves as a fundraiser for the conservatory’s music education and music therapy programs.

This year, the festival introduces Community Stages, an initiative inviting residents to host performances outside their homes. Anyone with access to a stoop, garden or similar space in Park Slope can apply to participate and be included on the festival map.

“Open Stages has grown to be one of Brooklyn’s favorite events. As a nod to the incredible talent in Park Slope, we’re excited to add something different to this year’s festival, showcasing homegrown performers through our Community Stages,” said Chad Cooper, executive director of the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music.

The lineup will include students from the conservatory’s Suzuki, Community Music School, Studio Collective and Music Therapy programs, along with local groups such as Yesterday’s News and the teen rock band the DaFunkies. Additional performers will be announced in the coming weeks.

Open Stages is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, JPMorgan Chase, the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment and the Levitt Foundation, along with other sponsors and local media partners.

The festival follows the conservatory’s recent expansion to a 12,000-square-foot facility at One Prospect Park West, which will expand its reach and house a new Music Therapy Institute.

Originally launched in May 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Open Stages has grown into a popular annual event celebrating community, creativity and live music in Brooklyn.