Volunteer Music grew out of Mark Foley’s experience in developing PeaceSong.

In 2003, PeaceSong released The War Trilogy and launched www.peacesong.com which rapidly became a top ranked internet site for peace music.

Although the PeaceSong project has a strong point of view on the effects of war, it has always been non-partisan.

Extending our concert experience to public spaces, Mark began staging free musical ‘happenings’ in city parks and the New York City subway in 2005. In that year, he developed VolunteerMusic to bring these live concerts to ‘communities of need’ and to support worthy civic initiatives.

Between May, 2006 and October 2007, VolunteerMusic presented over 147 free concerts. Among the venues we have served are Columbia Presbyterian Hospital (Rehabilitation Department), Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital, New York Foundling, Hebrew Home for the Aged, Jewish Home & Hospital, the MMS Scholarship Fund, Volunteer of America Bronx Early Center, NYC PS 137 & 147, Intergenerational House, White Plains Senior Center, Atria Senior Living Centers, The White Plains Public Library, The White Plains Farmers’ Market, Westchester Center for Educational and Emotional Development and Cardinal McCloskey Services(Walkathon).

In addition, a five day music workshop was conducted at ‘Main Idea’ – a program for disadvantaged children at Camp Walden(Denmark, Maine).

A number of free concerts are also staged in NYC parks, street fairs and other public spaces.

VolunteerMusic has also supported two civic causes: the conservation of green space and the preservation of historic buildings.

VolunteerMusic’s expenses have been partially funded by fees for private events, as well as appearances at fairs, festivals, concert series and benefits, such as the NYC RoadRunners Club Half-Marathon Fest, the Lincoln Square Winters Eve Fest, the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation’s ‘Summer on The Hudson’ and the Westchester Arts Council ArtsBash 2007. As a 'for hire' act, Mark Foley also appears as OneManBLAM!

Mark Foley has performed on public radio nationwide and has appeared on MTV Network’s VH-1.