At the height of the pandemic Zumix did not slow down one bit. Like many local organizations Zumix, East Boston’s popular music and performing arts nonprofit, reinvented itself and hosted remote celebrations, online classes and virtual showcases.
Their work throughout the pandemic culminated last year with an in-person return of Zumix’s annual Walk for Music fundraiser after the event was forced to go virtual in 2020.
There was much to celebrate at last year’s Walk for Music as the annual event coincided with Zumix’s 30th Anniversary celebration and a $1 million gift from McKenzie Scott and Dan Jewett’s foundation.
Madeleine Steczynski, co-founder and executive director of Zumix, said she was happy to announce that this year’s Walk for Music will again be in-person as the neighborhood and city slowly crawls out from under the grips of COVID.
Steczynski said on Sunday, June 10 at 3 pm Zumix community members and other participants will walk through Eastie’s parks to support the nonprofit’s award-winning music and youth empowerment programs.
The event will begin at the Zumix Firehouse at 260 Sumner St. with registration at the firehouse beginning at 3 pm and the Walk for Music starting at 4 pm.
The daylong festivities will conclude with the kickoff of Zumix’s Summer Concert Series in Piers Park, also a part of the annual Eastie Week celebration.
“We’re so excited to welcome our community back to the Firehouse for the Walk for Music,” said Steczynski. “It has been a challenging couple of years, and music and community have kept us going. We can’t wait to celebrate with everyone.”
The Walk for Music has become one of Zumix’s signature events and something Steczynski, the Zumix staff and community looks forward to each year.
Over the years, the Walk for Music has become one of Zumix’s largest annual events, raising well over $50,000 each year.
The money raised through the Walk for Music allows Zumix to keep its creative programs free and low-cost and serve more than 1,000 youth each year.
For over three decades Zumix has offered programs for young people ages 7-18 in songwriting and performance, creative media and technology, musical theater, private lesson instruction, and instrumental ensembles.
Created as a response to the need for high-quality music programming in Boston’s schools and communities, the Walk for Music has historically been an afternoon of music, celebration, and community for local music organizations. This year’s event will focus on the neighborhoods and green spaces of East Boston, including Piers Park, Bremen Street Park, and the Mary Ellen Welch Greenway.
Walkers can sign up in advance on the event page at https://secure.frontstream.com/walk-for-music-2022.
Those wishing to donate can visit https://secure.frontstream.com/walk-for-music-2022 or send a check made out to ZUMIX to 260 Sumner Street, East Boston, MA, 02128.
In the case of inclement weather, the concert and celebration after the walk will take place at the ZUMIX Firehouse.