The sixth annual Music Mix in Hamilton was a magnificent success this year.

We at the Partnership for Community Development were so thrilled to have acquired acts like Taiko Masala and Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience to perform. The festival was an absolute celebration of fabulous world music in the village of Hamilton where both local residents and festival-goers as far as Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey came to stimulate their senses.

The performance by Taiko Masala, who opened the festival, was a mind-blowing experience. Their combination of martial arts and percussive syncopated rhythms was amazing both to watch and hear.

Swing This and Bernie Clarke and the Rhythm Sharks added a little local flavor and brought the crowd to their feet, dancing along with the bands' lively sounds.

Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience closed out an amazing show with their soulful and wildly exciting Zydeco jams! Terrance's southern Creole flair and good-time Mardi Gras bead throwing had audiences both young and old, on their feet gyrating to his groove.

Also the Young Musicians' Showcase, a youth talent show consisting of eight finalists, was an awe-inspiring display of youthful talent. These kids captivated audiences with their amazing abilities, many of the youth performers had even written and performed their own material.

While we at the Partnership for Community Development are pleased with the success of the festival, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our sponsors and volunteers, who made this festival happen. Music Mix sponsors include New York State Music Fund, Oneida Savings Bank, Community Memorial Hospital, WSYR Channel 9, NBT, Den Kelly Auto Sales, Hamilton Orthopaedic Sports and Surgery, Burt Marshall, Alliance Bank and Parry's Hardware. In kind sponsors include Colgate University, Village of Hamilton, Rogers Environmental Education Center, Syracuse New Times and the Earlville Opera House. Local agencies Chenango Nursery School, Two x Two Nursery School, Hamilton Library and the Colgate Bookstore provided fun family crafts.

Over 40 volunteers were willing to assist us with every aspect of the event and made it run so smoothly. We would like to offer a special thanks to all of the volunteers who went the extra mile and stayed with us through the entirety of the day's events: our three judges (Mike Moren, Greg Yates, Kylie Davis) of the Young Musicians' Showcase who spent countless hours critiquing the youth performances (which was truly a difficult task as all of our performers were so incredibly talented), our stagehands (Marty Mettler, Joe Mettler, Randy Muth, Duane Martinez, Kevin Lane) who spent the entire day aiding in carrying around multiple loads of incredibly heavy equipment and drums to ensure the efficiency and safety of the musicians.

Also to our unbelievable and devoted tear-down team, we would like to extend our utmost thanks and deepest appreciation for staying with us for hours after the actual event taking apart the stage and cleaning up the green.

Festival Intern, Abby Cleveland and myself again would like to give thanks to all of our volunteers and festival goers for making the Music Mix possible and such a great success!