Free summer concerts planned at Secrest Arboretum

The 2026 Music at the Arboretum series in Wooster will open May 29 with a free outdoor concert. Music at the Arboretum is a collaboration of ORMACO (Ohio Regional Music Arts and Cultural Outreach), the Friends of Secrest Arboretum and Secrest Arboretum, offering live music in the natural setting of the John Streeter Garden Amphitheater.

"The concert series brings diverse performers to Wooster and invites the public — especially those who may not typically access the arts — to enjoy concerts surrounded by gardens and green space,” said Thomas Sigel, ORMACO executive director.

The series runs through August, with one concert each month: May 29, June 26, July 24 and Aug. 14. Concerts begin at 6:30 p.m. In case of inclement weather, the concerts are moved indoors to the Secrest Welcome and Education Center. Secrest is located at 2122 Williams Road in Wooster.

Seating in the amphitheater is stone, so people can bring chairs and blankets if preferred. Picnics are allowed, and ORMACO has a concession stand with soft drinks, water and snacks. The event is family-friendly.

Sigel said ORMACO, a mostly volunteer nonprofit founded 16 years ago, works to make music, arts and culture accessible to all, with a focus on programs for underserved, disadvantaged and rural populations. ORMACO serves populations in Medina, Wayne, Lorain, Ashland, Stark, Holmes, Summit, Cuyahoga, Erie and Portage counties.

The partnership between ORMACO and Secrest was born when Sigel reached out to Jason Veil, curator of Secrest Arboretum, for advice about planting trees on his property. Veil gave him a tour.

“When I saw the amphitheater,” said Sigel, “I asked Jason if the arboretum held any events in that beautiful space. He said that nothing takes place. I said, ‘This would be a fantastic place to hold concerts and invite the public.’ Jason liked the idea and ran it by the board of Friends of Secrest Arboretum. The board was enthusiastic and, in May 2021, Music at the Arboretum was born.”

This year’s season will feature a variety of music, including folk by McGee and Boling May 29; contemporary jazz, pop and standards by Esto Jazz June 26; classics, opera, show tunes, marches and more by Freedom Brass Band July 24; and three-part harmony by 3 Birds and the Wire Aug. 14.

To make the concerts free, Friends of Secrest Arboretum asks for donations and donors to specifically support Music at the Arboretum. ORMACO also asks for donations and receives some support from the Ohio Arts Council.

ORMACO relies on volunteer support and donations to help fund its programming.

“If we didn’t have public and grant support, we would not be able to present these programs,” said Sigel. “Bringing top-notch music to the public is an expensive undertaking. We strive to bring in the very best.”

ORMACO is always looking for volunteers to assist with events, especially in the summer. Tasks can include ushering, presenting, handing out programs and running the concession stand. Volunteers also are needed for behind-the-scenes administrative work, baking cookies for bus trips and serving on the board of directors. For more information, email tsigel@ormaco.org or call 419-853-6016.

Cash donations are always needed and also support educational programming.

“We have some donors who generously include us in their estate planning, have given us stock and have made IRS distributions,” said Sigel. “We also have an Endowment Fund with the Akron Community Foundation. The goal is to continue to build the organization so that it will be here to serve generations to come.”

When folks support ORMACO, Sigel said it’s more than funding concerts or classes.

“You’re investing in the heartbeat of our community,” he said. “You’re making sure that a child in a rural school hears a live violin for the first time. You’re giving an older adult a reason to get out, connect and feel joy. You’re helping families experience world-class music in a garden for free on a summer evening. You’re keeping creativity alive in places where it can so easily disappear.”

Veil said the concert series draws people to Secrest Arboretum who might not visit otherwise.

“The outdoor John Streeter Garden Amphitheater provides a natural and calming setting that allows visitors to immerse themselves in the music and showcases the role that gardens can play in our lives," he said.