November 13 - Sunday Live Music Festival
plus music / meditation from 830-930 a.m.

A full day of live music will be offered November 13, Sunday -- and it opens with a new event, one hour of guided meditation with music from 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. lead by flute and didgeridoo player Scott Schaefer. Bring your yoga mat or a comfortable folding chair and prepare to relax and start your Sunday with inner peace, focus and tranquility before enjoying more live music in the gardens.

SCOTT SCHAEFER AT 10:00 AM
Scott will play the opening set at 10:00 am, sharing the haunting, ethereal sounds of didgeridoo and flute; possibly also his Chinese gouzheng shown in the photo at right onstage in our picnic area. The unique entertainer plays a variety of World Music described as a "musical free verse: a very peaceful, natural approach to music as meditation."

Read more about Scott and his music at tranquilflute.com, or
Connect with Scott on Facebook

JIM PIPKIN AT 11:00
Mesa singer-songwriter and recording artist Jim Pipkin will play the 11:00 set near his favorite spot -- the Drover Shed. Jim's original songs bring to life miners, outlaws and Arizona characters from Territorial days.


Having the day-long music festival on Sunday is something new. Another debut this year is a participatory event: the drum circle at 12:00 noon coordinated by Mesa resident Cindy Green.

DRUM CIRCLE AT NOON
Cindy Green invites participants to join the Drum Circle beneath shady trees. Green coaches drum-building workshops, and says all drums are welcome. Preview an Arboretum Drum Circle on YouTube, this footage was from our Summer Solstice circle back in June.
No percussion? No problem! Green will bring a few loaners for those who wish to participate, but don't have a drum to bring. To connect with cindy and be on her mailing list for East Valley drum circles email [drumheart@yahoo.com] for details.

Autumn foliage begins to show vivid color around the Arboretum by mid-November, just in time for a Saturday when live music from Arizona originals will fill the air. Preview our live music festival on YouTube with our 2009 Music Festival Video

SHERRY FINZER AT 1:00
Another new performer this year is Ahwatukee's Sherry Finzer, a world-renowned flutist who perform solo and also with Radiant Sky and the Dulce VAS trio. She's known for a breadth of musical styles including new age, Latin, flamenco, classical, and jazz. Finzer travels internationally to perform at a variety of locations as a Pearl Flute Performing Artist and Recording Artist for Heart Dance Records; read more at sherryfinzer.com. or connect with Sherry on facebook. Nov. 13 she plays at 1:00 p.m. and will showcase original music from her new age CD "Sanctuary (Earth)," and plans to duet on a song or two with guitar accomonist Darin Mahoney - a collaborator on her most recent CD.

Bring chairs and a picnic lunch, and plan to stay for the day. Our live music event at the Arboretum makes for a Saturday truly "both acoustic and eclectic."

November's live music festival is a singular chance to stroll through unique collections of desert plants and arid ecosystems -- while also being treated to five hours of song and music from Arizona musicians playing intimate sets in the demonstration garden, herb garden, rose garden and other beautiful locations throughout the grounds.

Enjoy a stress-relieving massage nearby during the music, therapist Heather Rose will be here with her massage chair, too, with a portion of donations for massages donated to benefit Boyce Thompson Arboretum. To schedule a massage appointment in advance with Heather, email teamrose@tmomail.net or call her at 602.549.2958.

2011 Performers :
8:30 - 9:30 a.m. Music and Meditation with Scott Schaefer in the Picnic Area

10:00 - 10:45 a.m. Cedar Flute and Didgeridoo music by Scott Schaefer in the Picnic Area

11:00 a.m. Mesa recording artist Jim Pipkin near the Australian Drover's Shed

12:00 p.m. Drum Circle with Cindy Green near the Smith Building

1:00 p.m. Sherry Finzer at the Desert Legume Garden

2:00 p.m. Russ Braman & Scott Dooley on the Smith Building flagstone patio

3:00 p.m. The Usual Suspects; Annrenee Jones & James Cowden, Marconias and Gram Benike.