Queens Botanical Garden is happy to host a series of four exciting, evening concerts this summer. These concerts are free with admission to the Garden. Listeners may bring blankets to sit on the lawn or a lawn chair to sit on the walkway.
An extraordinary Argentine-American singer, Sofia Rei, and her multi-national ensemble will give the first concert on Saturday, July 23 at 6:45 p.m. Ms. Rei has been hailed for “the power and precision of her amazing vocal range” and her performances for their “emotional impact that leaves audiences gasping for air and begging for more.” The group will perform folkloric South American music spiced with Sofia’s own personal flavor. To learn more about the unique artistry of this rising star, visit her website at www.Sofiamusic.com. The concert will take place on our beautiful Oak Allee. Food will be offered for sale on the Terrace beginning at 6:00 p.m., provided by Jackson Heights Latin music hot spot/restaurant D’Antigua.
The Music in the Garden series will continue on Saturday, August 13 at 6:45 p.m. with an enchanting evening of drumming, dance and music performed by artists of the Korean Traditional Music and Dance Institute (KTMDI), the oldest established Korean performing arts organization in New York City. Learn more about this dynamic collaboration of artists dedicated to preserving and promoting Korea’s vibrant arts traditions at www.ktmdi.org. Traditional Korean food will also be available beginning at 6 p.m.
On Saturday, August 27, 2011 at 6:45 p.m., the Music in the Garden series will present, in partnership with the Flushing Development Center, artists from the NY Chinese Cultural Center who will perform a program of lively folk dances and lead an interactive lesson in the Colorful Ribbon Dance for children. Music on traditional instruments and a Kung Fu demonstration by the famed Monkey King of Chinese opera will also be featured. Food will be offered for sale on the Terrace beginning at 6:00 p.m., provided by long-time Flushing dining favorite, No. 1 East Restaurant, a.k.a. People & People Restaurant.
In September (date TBD), performers from The Hindu Temple Society of North America will present music and dance from India, featuring a full-force choir, intricate and colorful dancing, and a musical extravaganza to complete the evening. Beginning at 6:00 pm, food from the Temple Kitchen will be available for purchase on the Terrace.
These events are ideal for all ages, so come with your family and friends. Enjoy a summer evening surrounded by the beauty of nature and soaking in the sights and sounds of wonderful musical artists. These concerts are made possible through support from the New York Community Trust.
QUEENS BOTANICAL GARDEN
The Queens Botanical Garden grew from “Gardens on Parade,” a spectacular five-acre exhibition at the 1939 New York World’s Fair. Today the institution is one of 34 institutions comprising the City’s Cultural Institutions Group (CIG) and the steward of 39 acres of City land, adjacent to the northeast tip of Flushing Meadow Park.
The Queens Botanical Garden is reached by the No. 7 train or Long Island Rail Road (Port Washington line) to Main Street/Flushing or the Q44 or Q20 buses to Elder Avenue/Main Street. Drivers should take the Long Island Expressway to Exit 23, Main Street, or the Van Wyck Expressway to Exit 12A, College Point Boulevard.
For more information, the public may visit www.queensbotanical.org or call 718.886.3800.