Dual Events, Showcased by Arts Access Miami, Demonstrate the Power of High-Quality, Collaborative Music Education in South Florida Schools
Youth Music Festivals Take Place in South Miami on March 14
Miami-Dade County’s next generation of musicians is preparing to take center stage as Arts Access Miami (AAM) announces the return of two of the county’s most celebrated youth arts events. These free festivals in Miami Gardens and South Dade highlight both first-time performers and some of the most impressive young musical talent South Florida has to offer.
Celebrated in partnership with iHeart radio and Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS), attendees will enjoy food vendors, interactive experiences, community connections, and the joy of celebrating the hard-earned talents of eager K – 12th students.
- South Dade Youth Music Festival will be held at Losner Park, March 14, 2026, from 2–6 p.m. – its 2nd year! RSVP for South Dade here.
In 2025, the two events combined entertained more than 4,000 attendees and offered performance opportunities for 1,600 students. Equal parts community celebration and proof of concept, the festivals demonstrate what arts education can achieve when children have regular, professional instruction in school.
Community leaders supporting the Youth Music Festivals include Miami Gardens Councilwoman Linda Julien, Homestead Vice Mayor Jenifer Bailey, and Miami-Dade County District 8 Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins. They represent the current geographical areas where AAM has been integrated since its launch in 2020.
“Arts Access Miami was created to move arts education out of silos and into a shared system,” said Alan Valladares, Director of Arts Access Miami, the largest collective arts program in the United States. “Instead of organizations working independently, we bring nonprofit arts partners together with principals, school district leadership, along with city and county partners to plan, fund, and deliver arts education collectively across entire feeder patterns. Our Youth Music Festivals are a public expression of that collaboration, showcasing students side by side and demonstrating what is possible when organizations work together to expand access for every student in Miami-Dade County Public Schools.”
AAM enjoys invaluable support from M-DCPS, its media partner, iHeart Radio, and collaborators such as Young Musicians Unite, Guitars Over Guns, Miami Music Project, and many others. Each plays a role in elevating arts education by offering mentorship and performance opportunities that extend beyond the stage and into day-to-day classroom experiences.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) and Arts Access Miami (AAM) maintain a formal partnership to dramatically expand equitable access to arts education across the school district. Under the agreement, Arts Access Miami will serve as the district’s strategic partner for arts education development. Managed by Young Musicians Unite (YMU) and fiscally sponsored by The Miami Foundation (TMF), AAM is building a thriving arts education ecosystem to ensure every student in every school in Miami-Dade has access to arts and music education.
For more information, performance schedules, or partnership opportunities, please visit Arts Access Miami.
Arts Access Miami is transforming how arts and music education organizations collaborate. Instead of competing for funding and students, we unite 25 of Miami’s top arts education organizations under a shared strategy to ensure that every child, from K-12th grade across a single community has access to free, high-quality arts education. AAM currently impacts over 11,000 students across 55 schools in the Miami Gardens, Homestead, and South Dade communities.
About M-DCPS: Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS), an A-rated district, is the nation’s third-largest school system, serving more than 300,000 students across 340+ schools. With students representing over 160 countries, M-DCPS is a vibrant reflection of global diversity and academic excellence. Our commitment to excellence is evident in our landmark 95 percent graduation rate and consistent recognition at national and international levels. Anchored in excellence, innovation, choice, and safety, M-DCPS continues to be your best choice for a world-class education.
