The festival also highlighted progress in teacher involvement. Out of 9,000 trainers, at least 3,920 were female, a sharp rise from 2,000 just a few years ago.
"The male leads, but the female are catching up," Ngala noted, adding that music teachers remain too few compared to the demand.
Learners with special needs also recorded increased participation from 2,700 last year to 5,200 this year marking a milestone in inclusivity. Universities expanded their presence too, with 26 institutions participating, up from just 8 last year
Prof Ngala revealed plans to internationalize the festival, starting with a collaboration with the University of Florida, which has agreed to host Kenyan teams and co-design programs from next year.