Once a year, something extraordinary happens in the forest at Adkins Arboretum. Music begins under the tall trees and echoes through the woods, luring visitors closer…

Born of a partnership between the Arboretum and the National Music Festival, Forest Music is a unique performance art event. It offers the musicians a unique opportunity to experience the beautiful and surprising acoustics of a towering forest, and interact one-on-one with visitors who pause along the trails to hear them play.

 

Positioned individually or in small ensembles along the wooded trails, these musicians send their music into the air to mingle with birdsong and the rustle of leaves in the canopy.

Forest Music is a celebration of musical diversity. Over the years, the forest has come alive with the sounds of violins, clarinets, harps, horns, bassoons, flutes, double basses, and even steel drums. The repertoire is equally diverse, ranging from classical masterpieces by Bach to timeless hits by the Beatles and even original compositions crafted specifically for the Arboretum’s forest.