Enjoy Great Music Out In Nature At The Morton Arboretum

Add Music to a Day of Family Fun

LISLE, IL (June 4, 2007) – There’s no better way to get your kids excited about music and nature than a Morton Arboretum family concert. Let Ralph Covert, ScribbleMonster, Justin Roberts and other great performers get the whole family singing and dancing among Arboretum trees.

The fun gets started with ever-popular Ralph’s World on Saturday, July 14, with an 11 a.m. Family Concert. Ralph Covert’s last album, “Green Gorilla, Monster and Me,” was nominated for a Grammy. Ralph takes you from the bottom of the sea to the driver’s seat of a big rig to a swinging jungle vine! After the show, visit the Children’s Garden for some great fun.

See Justin Roberts and the Not Ready For Naptime Players at 3 p.m. on August 26. Justin gets the crowd movin’ and bumpin’ as fans spring to their feet and bounce off each other like bumper cars. His 2006 CD “Meltdown” earned Justin his fourth Parents’ Choice Gold Award. People Magazine says “There are a slew of musicians with alt-rock credibility making records for kids… Justin Roberts may be the best of the bunch.”

“We’ve seen great interest in our past Family Concerts, so we’ve added an additional series of free concerts this summer,” said Marilyn Baysek, Special Events Manager. “We’re really excited about our entire lineup this year.”

The free concerts kick off on at 3 p.m. on June 17 – Father’s Day – with SteveSongs in the Children’s Garden. Join Steve Roslonek – winner of numerous national awards, including a Parents’ Choice Gold Award, a CMW Best Audio Award, a NAPPA Honor and an iParenting Media Award – as he blends sing-along songs, clever stories and great melodies into an experience that leads young listeners on what the Boston Globe calls “not just a musical journey but an entertaining, interactive and educational one.”

The Fox Valley Youth Symphony performs a free concert at 1 p.m. on July 15. Spend a leisurely summer afternoon being enchanted by classic melodies as you enjoy the natural beauty of Meadow Lake, Arbor Court and the Maze Garden. These “kids that play well together” provide enriching performances that bring a youthful, invigorating joy.

Then on July 29, come out as ScribbleMonster and His Pals keep the family fun rolling along with a free concert at 3 p.m. in the Children’s Garden. Through fun tunes designed to spark the imagination, encourage learning and discovery, this is one “monster” your kids will love.

The young hands of the OPUS ensembles fill Arbor Court with great works for stringed instruments at 1 p.m. on August 12. Founded in 2000 and drawing students from Naperville School District 203, OPUS performs stimulating and exciting renditions of classic orchestrations that inspire real appreciation of the arts.

Tickets are required for Ralph’s World and Justin Roberts. Prices are $14 on the day of the concert, $12 with advance purchase ($8 for Arboretum members advance purchase). Children under the age of 2 are free with a paying adult. For tickets, call 630-725-2066 (9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday), visit www.mortonarb.org or stop by the Visitor Center Information Desk (8 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily). Lawn area opens one hour prior to performances; bring blankets or lawn chairs. All concerts take place weather permitting; no refunds of exchanges.

The Presenting Sponsor of Ralph’s World and Justin Roberts is Subaru. Supporting Sponsors are the Hilton Lisle/Naperville, and Naperville Magazine.

The Morton Arboretum is an internationally recognized 1,700-acre outdoor museum with collections of 4,057 kinds of trees, shrubs, and other plants from around the world. The Arboretum's beautiful natural landscapes, gardens, research and education programs, and year-round family activities support its mission - the planting and conservation of trees and other plants for a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world. Conveniently located at I-88 and Rte. 53 in Lisle, Illinois, the Arboretum is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. or sunset, whichever is earlier, Central Time. The Children's Garden is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (CDT) and 9:30 to 4 p.m. (CST). Visit www.mortonarb.org or call 630/968-0074 to learn more.

Media Contacts:    Gina Tedesco, 630-725-2103 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it