The Michigan State University College of Music joins the W.J. Beal Botanical Garden infusing music, art, science and sustainability in a series of interactive summer events in the heart of campus. The family-friendly events will take place in W.J. Beal Botanical Garden across from the newly- renovated Music Building on West Circle Drive and are free and open to the public.

The Music and the Garden series runs on select Sunday afternoons from June through September. Events start with drop-in family-oriented art and science activities, followed by concerts that will highlight MSU College of Music chamber music and jazz. After concerts, attendees can learn about threatened Michigan plants, pollinator gardens, native plants, and the restoration of the Red Cedar riverbank on campus.

Audience members are invited to bring their own chairs or blankets for seating. In the event of rain, activities may move indoors to the Music Building, located adjacent to W.J. Botanical Garden at 333 West Circle Drive.

In Tune with Nature
Sunday, June 5
Instrumentalists perform the ideas of diverse composers on the sounds of nature with music from two flutes.

Percussion with Nature
Sunday, June 26
MSU percussionists complement the natural ambiance of the garden with the sounds and melodies of marimba and other percussion instruments.

Soft and Sharp Jazz
Sunday, July 17
The MSU Spartan Jazz Quartet perform toe-tapping works of soul, swing, blues and straight-ahead jazz.

SOUNDscapes
Sunday, August 14
The award-winning MSU saxophone quartet, Sound Session, performs a variety of works that exemplify beautifully combined rhythm and melodic range.

Strings Sing
Sunday, September 11
A hint of the fall season in the garden presents an MSU String Quartet to perform a range of traditional and contemporary classical chamber works.

The Music and the Garden Series is presented by W.J. Beal Botanical Garden in partnership with musicians coordinated by the MSU College of Music. Pre- and post-performance activities are arranged by the staff of the W.J. Beal Botanical Garden. Learn more about upcoming events this summer at music.msu.edu/events
 

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Press materials

View or download the press release (PDF)
Contact Michael Sundermann, 517-353-2043, sunderm7@msu.edu 

Photography and graphic downloads

Event graphic courtesy MSU College of Music

Music and the Garden events are designed to blend art, science, and sustainability through family-friendly activities and music.