M³ Festival to Foster Musical Collaborations & Connections

By DownBeat I Sep. 16, 2025

The fourth annual M³ Festival at Roulette Intermedium will feature Becca Stevens, Kenny Barron, Immanuel Wilkins, Devon Gates and other pioneering musicians.
(Photo: M³ Festival)

Mutual Mentorship for Musicians (M³), an initiative dedicated to advancing professional and artistic growth for women and gender-expansive musicians, will present the fourth annual M³ Festival on Oct. 4 at Roulette Intermedium in Brooklyn, New York. The collaborative event will feature singer-songwriter Becca Stevens, pianist Kenny Barron, saxophonist/composer Immanuel Wilkins and pioneering M³ musicians and their projects including Siren Xypher (Melanie Dyer, Mara Rosenbloom, Kyoto Kitamura), Shoko Nagai and Satoshi Takeishi’s Vortex, Vertical Sounds (Kess Southpaw, Mnisibass, Melanie Dyer), Maia & Zamonda, Devon Gates’ Ghost Stories (Gates, Victoria Awkward, Matt Greenwood) and Gili Lopes.

The marathon-style event will also launch the inaugural issue of M³ Magazine, featuring writing from most of the artists performing at the festival. It includes an interview with 2025 M³ Luminary Awardee Maia, who has earned renown as a longtime member of the AACM and is giving a rare New York performance at the festival. The magazine springs from M³’s Anthologies of Writings, which were formerly published in book format. “We wanted to create an archive of writings that takes control of the narrative with regards to underrepresented musicians,” said M³ co-founders Sara Serpa and Jen Shyu. “We envision it as a legacy for future generations.”

Now celebrating its fifth anniversary, M³ was founded during the COVID pandemic in 2020 by Shyu and Serpa as a platform for creative risk-taking, exchange through musical commissions, peer-led mentorship, publication of anthologies, performances, festivals and awards. M³ has commissioned and supported 92 artists creating 46 new co-compositions. “Music and art keep our imagination and hope alive, beyond the noise of social media and endless digital scrolls, providing spaces for real connection,” said Serpa. “It is more important than ever to listen, support and show up for musicians. because through them, we feel less isolated. Music embodies all that this moment holds: sadness, rage, grief — but also joy, strength and gratitude.”

Serpa and Shyu conceived of M³ through conversations about elevating women and non-binary musicians, particularly those of color, in their global music community. For M³ artists, the initiative has offered invaluable experiences and support.

“It’s just an amazing opportunity to form really deep connections and get a chance to make really meaningful and beautiful music,” said pianist, composer and improviser Naomi Nakanishi. “It really is a community.”

The event begins at 7 p.m. Tickets and information are available at m3musicians.org. Digital tickets are also available. DB