A few minutes before speaking to The Hindu, Amita Desai is on a music break, listening to one of her favourite songs — Jaane Kahaan Gaye Woh Din from Raj Kapoor’s Mera Naam Joker. “The song is full of meaning and doesn’t talk about a certain period of time. It can be yesterday, 10 or 50 years ago, but it connects to every listener,” says the founder-director of Goethe Zentrum Hyderabad.

This celebration of music as a universal language that breaks barriers and resonates with diverse listeners is also the aim of Fete de la Musique — World Music Day celebrations in Hyderabad.

Fête de la Musique, the free, open-air music festival that began in France in 1982 takes place on the same day every year in over 120 countries. The city’s 2026 edition is produced by Goethe-Zentrum Hyderabad and Alliance Française Hyderabad, in collaboration with Dark Vibe Society, George Hull Collective, and with EXT and NEXT Galleria mall and Mirage Media as venue and media partners.

“Fete de la Musique originated in France 44 years ago, but the fact that Hyderabad has been doing it for over 20 years without a break, including online events during the pandemic is remarkable,” shares Amita.

Bond with music

Hyderabad will witness two different forms of music on the evening of June 21. While established and amateur musicians fill the venue with vocals, music and percussion, the Alright Mela will bring rhythms of the Mediterranean as part of its India tour. “We are in dire need of being together and coming together, of coexisting harmoniously, and that is the purpose of music. It communicates and connects. I may not know your music, but I am happy to explore it,” says Amita.

Dedicated to live music and cultural exchange, Music Day celebrations foster a global connection. “For Goethe-Zentrum Hyderabad, World Music Day has always been about cultural exchange in its truest sense — German, French and Indian institutions coming together on a stage that belongs entirely to the city’s musicians,” says Amita.

Talking about the power of music in building relationships and connecting us all, Amita says, “A young person could be playing the Beatles, which belongs to my generation or they could be playing a rap which is their generation but it connects us. It connects whatever is being said and the youth in particular, bring such an energy, it is a joy to listen to them.”

Fete de la Musique will take place at NEXT Galleria Mall from 4pm-8pm, at EXT Film Nagar from 8.30 pm. Entry free, no prior registration needed.

Music from aross the world

City-based Hyderabad Voices, including its junior chorus group, is set to blend the spirit of patriotism with Music Day celebrations at their concerts on June 19 and June 27. As many as 75 singers — 40 from the senior choir and 35 voices from the children’s choir will present a rendition of ‘Jana Gana Mana’, the National Anthem in three-part harmony.

“The concept of choir is restricted to churches but we wanted to make it secular so people of different age groups, cultures, ethnicities, and orientation can participate. Also, we wanted to bring in the regional factor in our performances,” says music educator Ashrita Arockiam D’Souza, who co-founded the two-year-old group with Shakila Dowsi.

Ashrita composed three harmonies for the National Anthem to create an immersive experience for the audience, who can sing along with the musicians on stage.

The two-hour concert spans around different genres with 16 compositions and pieces done in the form of choral music. Their repertoire is widespread with classics such as the Beatles, Queen and African folk songs. Besides recreating the ABBA experience, the team will also perform Mozart’s ‘Requiem’ and pop numbers.

Their rehearsal sessions with occasional breaks have been on since February every Sunday evening at the Paigah Palace in Begumpet. “Our group is a mix of amateurs and professional musicians, and everyone’s looking forward to our performance.”

Hyderabad Voices and Junior Chorus present Wings of Song on June 19 and 27 at Bhaskara auditorium. Tickets priced at ₹250 on Bookmyshow and at the venue