Music in the Garden to bloom again this year
When the temps rise, the sun comes out, and Lansing folks finally stow their snowblowers, they just can’t manage to stay inside. They revel in being outside, for not only sports activities and barbecues, but also for listening to music and watching plays.
The Michigan State University College of Music was surprised when they quickly threw together a concert series that took place in the WJ Beal Botanical Garden people and 100-150 showed up.
That was in 2016. Now they’re getting serious. Christine Beamer, who heads up the College of Music Gigline (connecting student musicians with gigs around town) says, “We decided to expand and build our infrastructure around the concert. The gardens staff are instrumental in coordinating the Dairy Store Ice Cream, the MSU Food Truck and providing our sound system.”
The MSU campus is awash in color and flowers for four to six months of the year, and it makes a great backdrop for playing and listening to beautiful music.
Beamer says, “Unlike a traditional concert hall experience, Music in he Garden concerts have a relaxed atmosphere where people can come and leave as they need to.”
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
From the beginning, the series was designed with three purposes: provide MSU college students with a chance to play and gain experience with community engagement, showcase the beautiful Beal Botanical Garden and bridge the silos between the units of campus and to the Great Lansing Community.
Read more:
Local theater applauded with Thespie Awards
Wharton Center’s 2018-2019 season
Garden tours will take place immediately following the performances and you are asked to bring blankets or chairs..
The Beal Gardens are between the Library and the IM Building, across from the music building. This year’s concerts will be
Tuesday, June 26, Spartan Student Jazz Ensemble
7-8 p.m.; garden tour immediately following
Sweet sounds and toe-tapping rhythms from a select group of MSU Jazz Studies students performing soul, swing, blues and straight ahead jazz.
Tuesday, July 31, Slavistar Romani Music
7-8 p.m.; garden tour immediately following
Five-piece band featuring clarinet, trumpet, trombone, tuba, and drums, performs rich and colorful music, while sharing cultural stories of music origins.
Tuesday, Aug. 14, Pure Winds Quintet
7-8 p.m.; garden tour immediately following
Award-winning wind quintet performs an engaging variety of traditional and contemporary repertoire for audiences of all ages.
Tuesday, Sept. 4, Percussion Duo
6-7 p.m.; garden tour immediately following
Doctoral candidates and acclaimed percussionists Kramer Milan and Sebastian Buhts perform a duo of melodic rhythms.