News

Arboretum getting In Tune With Trees with summer concerts

Posted May 31, 2010 11:00 pm

By Jennifer Wheeler Daily Herald Staff

Huey Lewis and the News performs at 7 p.m. July 23 as part of the In Tune with Trees summer concert series at the Morton Arboretum.

When Marilyn Baysek was hired by the Morton Arboretum to bring non-traditional audiences into the park, she had one idea in mind: melodies under the maples.

For Baysek, it's hard to imagine a better environment to watch entertainers perform than next to leafy trees on a relaxing weekend evening.

"The atmosphere is that it's a beautiful night on the lawn. The sun moves down; the moon goes up. The music goes across the lawn," said Baysek, the arboretum's manager of special events.

With that in mind, Baysek asked her daughter's piano teacher and his garage band to perform on the Lisle grounds. Though the event drew just 300 people, organizers thought it was a hit.

In fact, the idea was so crowd-pleasing and quick to catch on that now, nearly 10 years later, 16 performers have been invited to become in sync with nature and play at the Lisle museum as part of its In Tune with Trees summer concert series. Some of the toe-tapping entertainers include Mark Chesnutt, the Indigo Girls and Augustana.

Throughout June, July and August, sounds from nine twilight and three family shows will dance across the arboretum's lawn. Shows will be on Fridays for the first time this year, as well as on Saturdays and Sundays.

Since the series began in 2001, Baysek said the arboretum's goal has been to become the Ravinia of the Western suburbs.

This year, a new sound will echo through the elms as the New Millennium Orchestra of Chicago joins the concert line up. The act aims to teach children how an orchestra's sound is created by featuring individual instruments and eventually combining them to produce a melodic sound.

Because the Morton Arboretum's mission is environment-based, Baysek said the budget for the concert series is not large and is dependent on sales and sponsors like Harris Bank, Whole Foods Market, Wente Vineyards and the Lisle Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"We have to rent the stage, the sound, the lights, the fencing (and) the barricades," she said. "It's a huge expense to us because we don't have a permanent amphitheater."

After paying expenses, the remaining proceeds will go toward research, planning, and classes and programs.

Rachel Gerds, spokeswoman for Harris Bank, said this is the third season the company has sponsored the series because art and culture are part of the corporate philanthropy's focus areas.

The idea to sponsor the event began once Brad Ballast, managing director of community affairs, brought the idea to the company's attention. He had worked with the Morton Arboretum. With his backing, the company was on board and chose to sponsor the event.

And with the summer concert series right around the corner, Baysek already is looking forward to future years, saying she hopes the arboretum will "make an impression and make our mark."

"I want the arboretum to be top of mind," Baysek said. "I want everyone to be waiting for (next) summer's announcements."

Tickets can be purchased before the show at a discounted price or the day of the concert. For details, call (630) 725-2066 or visit the Visitors Center at 4100 Route 53.

Guests are allowed to bring food, and items can also be purchased at the venue. Beer and wine are allowed at the concert site, but all alcoholic drinks must be bought on the arboretum's premises.

Blues Traveler will open this year's In Tune with Trees summer concert series at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle. The group takes the outdoor stage at 7 p.m. June 18. Associated Press

Two-time Grammy winner Lee Ann Womack will preform at the Morton Arboretum as part of its In Tune with Trees concert series at 7 p.m. Aug. 7. Country singer Mark Chesnutt will share the bill. Associated Press

Morton Arboretum's summer concert series features 16 performers over three weekends at the museum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Ticket prices vary. For information, call (630) 725-2066 or visit <a href="http://mortonarb.org" target="new">mortonarb.org</a>. Here's a look at the schedule: 7 p.m. June 18: Blues Traveler and Dr. John and the Lower 911 11 a.m. June 19: Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players 7 p.m. June 19: Jakob Dylan with Augustana 7 p.m. June 20: Kenny Loggins 7 p.m. July 23: Huey Lewis and the News 7 p.m. July 24: Indigo Girls 3 p.m. July 25: New Millennium Orchestra of Chicago (family concert) 7 p.m. July 25: New Millennium Orchestra of Chicago with Matthew Santos 7 p.m. Aug. 6: Lyle Lovett and his Large Band 11 a.m. Aug. 7: Ralph's World 7 p.m. Aug. 7: Lee Ann Womack with Mark Chesnutt 7 p.m. Aug. 8: Marc Cohn with Betty LaVette

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