On September 21st, the Dallas Arboretum will dedicate and open the much anticipated Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden, a sprawling 8-acre interactive garden designed specifically to address state and national science standards in life, earth and environmental sciences. To celebrate, the Dallas Arboretum has launched an initiative, "The Year of the Children's Garden," that will herald its opening with celebrations the week before and beyond its much anticipated launch.
The festivities begin with Big Talent from Big D. This benefit concert features four finalists and top contestants from The Voice and American Idol who claim the greater Dallas area as home. The triumphant singers include Amber Carrington, Jason Castro, Stephanie Crews and Taylor Beckham, together exclusively for this benefit concert. Actor and guitarist, Sterling Knight, of Disney fame will be a special guest.
Kaki Hopkins, chair of The Year of the Children's Garden says, "Prepare for an electrifying evening with these knock-out young talents and the Arboretum's most popular band, Emerald City, who will perform with them." Three food trucks including The Butcher's Son, Gandolfo's and What's Da Scoop?, will provide delicious food for purchase or people can bring their own picnic.
Concert to be held on the Martin Rutchik Concert Stage and Lawn
Members: $18 | Non-members: $30 Teen Zone*: $40 Table Sponsors**: $500 (tables seat eight)
Please call Customer Service at 214.515.6615 to reserve your table!
There will be Music at the DeGolyer - Rachmaninoff and Chopin for starters. This event features young virtuoso award-winning musicians in concert benefiting the Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden. Sixteen-year-old sensation, Lewis Warren, Jr., who recently performed for the Van Cliburn Foundation's 50th Anniversary Gala, is a multiple-award-winning pianist, composer, arranger and improviser. Lewis recently performed Chopin's Concerto No. 2 with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Maestro Jaap van Zweden. He will dazzle the audience with both pieces from Chopin and Rachmaninoff at the DeGolyer Estate.
Fifteen-year-old Jordan Lee, whose talent as a violinist has earned her many top honors and acceptances into prestigious international institutes of music during her summers, has been playing the violin since she was three years old. She will perform music of three composers, ending with the thrilling Violin Concerto 3rd Movement by Tchaikovsky. Jordan will be accompanied by pianist Deborah Austin.
Salon seating in the library of the DeGolyer Estate
6:00pm | light hors d'oeuvres and wine
7:30pm | musical program
General Ticket $55 | Contributor Ticket $75
Don't miss this great chance for adults and students to experience a presentation by former NASA Astronaut, Tom D. Jones, Phd; scientist, author, and pilot. In over eleven years with the space program, Tom flew on four space shuttle missions to Earth orbit. On his last flight, he led three spacewalks to install the centerpiece of the International Space Station, the American Destiny laboratory. He has spent fifty-three days working and living in space.
Tom piloted B-52D strategic bombers, studied asteroids for NASA, engineered intelligence-gathering systems for the CIA and, as a NASA contractor, developed advanced mission concepts to explore the solar system. Among his many distinguished awards, this gentleman of space has an asteroid named after him, main belt asteroid 1082 Tom Jones. Tom is currently a senior research scientist at the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, focusing on future direction of human space exploration, uses of asteroid and space resources, and planetary defense. He appears frequently on air with expert commentary on science and space flight.
St. Mark's Decherd Performance Hall Student Ticket
$5 | Adult Ticket $15 | Contributor Ticket $25
Visit http://www.dallasarboretum.org/RoryMeyers/Year-of-Childrens-Garden.htm to purchase tickets for any of these amazing events. The dedication of the Rory Meyers Children's will take place on Saturday, September 21 at 12pm before opening to the community with timed tickets purchased in advance for the day.
*Teen Zone ticket purchasers (valid only for ages 13-17) will receive a colored wristband upon scanning their ticket at the ticket booth. They must visibly wear this wristband on their arm at all times. **Table Sponsors receive premium seating and an invitation to the meet and greet with Sterling Knight and the singers in the Camp House from 6:00-6:45 p.m.
