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Music connects us.
In our deeply divided world, music is universally soothing. Researchers have found that listening to music triggers the release of neurochemicals that reduce stress and increase pleasure. Music helps people regulate their emotions and lower anxiety. Consider the use of national anthems, protest songs, hymns, love songs, sea shanties and lullabies to bring people together.
Music in the Garden has been held in the nationally recognized Georgeson Botanical Garden overlooking the Alaska Range on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus since 2012. For 12 weeks each summer 24 bands perform music ranging from folk to jazz, steel drums of the Caribbean to Zimbabwean marimba, rock to blues.
Music in the Garden provides a free, family-friendly, inclusive, safe and relaxed environment for the Fairbanks community and its visitors. Children can enjoy a wide variety of music while comfortably resting on blankets or tumbling on the grass. The popularity of the concerts has grown exponentially over the years. Each week between 500-1000 folks pour into the garden armed with blankets, lawn chairs, and picnic baskets to settle in for a relaxing evening in a beautiful environment. It is wonderful to see multi-generational families, members of the military and town join together on the University campus for an evening of music, joy, connection, and companionship.
Over the years College Rotary has supported the Georgeson Botanical Garden by constructing a pavilion with space for up to 150 people, providing a commercial grade propane grill, a walkway to the pavilion, and co-sponsoring a popular and informative pollinator exhibit that includes an educational activity for visitors of all ages. During Music in the Garden concerts we walk through the audience with watering cans to collect donations to support the garden. Our participation in this event has greatly increased visibility and awareness of Rotary. It connects the faces of Rotary to our garden projects and to our community as a whole.
While Music in the Garden is free to the community, it does cost approximately $20,000 to produce. For several years our club has been able to contribute $5000 to sponsor this event. This year we are able to contribute $2,500 and request a match from the district.
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