Each year for 22 years, the Eugene Symphony Guild has given the citizens of Eugene and surrounding areas a wonderful gift on the second weekend in June. Every year, from 1998 to 2019, the Guild has presented “Music in the Garden,” a self-guided tour of some of the area’s most beautiful private gardens. Live music, refreshments, vendors, garden art, as well as talks with garden owners and landscape experts, were all included in the tour, giving attendees hours of delightful sights and sounds.
The Eugene Symphony Guild is a nonprofit independent volunteer organization that raises and donates money to the Eugene Symphony Association. Now in its 54th year, the Guild has given more than $1.3 million to the symphony, ranking among the symphony’s largest donors. “Music in the Garden” is the Guild’s largest fundraiser and a beloved event in the community.
We all know what happened in March 2020. With COVID-19 spreading in the community, by June many events were canceled, as was the fate of our 2020 “Music in the Garden” fundraiser. For the safety of our volunteers, homeowners and attendees, there was no other choice. This resulted in many disappointed fans and Guild members, yet we tried to look to the future and plan for a normal event in 2021.
