GODFREY - Community members can enjoy a special orchestra concert while supporting Alton Community Unit School District #11 and The Nature Institute.
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At 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, The Nature Institute will host the Alton High School orchestra for an outdoor concert titled “Dance in the Woods.” The concert serves as a fundraiser for The Nature Institute. Laura Plummer, the orchestra director, noted that the annual concert is a fun way to connect with the community while showcasing the students’ work.
“We love it because it’s just such a gorgeous place to perform with the sun setting over the Mississippi,” Plummer said. “It’s a really great concert. It’s one of our favorites because of the location and we do a theme and it’s just fun music for the night.”
Plummer explained that the high school orchestra began playing an annual concert at TNI five years ago. Since then, the experience has expanded to include a food truck, professional photography and more.
Families and community members are invited out on Sept. 25 to enjoy a fun evening. The food truck will only accept cash, and you can donate to TNI while you’re there. A shuttle will run from the parking lot to the skeet range, where the orchestra will play, from 5:30–5:50 p.m. before the concert kicks off at 6 p.m.
This year’s theme, “Dance in the Woods,” features a few rock favorites, from Led Zeppelin’s “Black Dog” to Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” all played by the orchestra. Plummer said these arrangements are “legit” and the students always “rise to the challenge” of learning and playing new songs.
“It’s fun music. Literally, come dance in the woods,” she joked. “It’s going to be a fun night.”
Plummer added that it’s important for the orchestra to play concerts in the community and fundraise for groups like TNI. She noted that the Riverbend community is very supportive of the Alton Community Unit School District #11 music program, and the musicians and teachers like to give back as much as they can.
“This community supports our music program and has for many, many, many years,” she said. “[We love] just to give back to the community in that way. And The Nature Institute is such a treasure in our community and such a jewel and just a beautiful place. It’s important for us to give back and to support the community, who is so supportive of us.”
As Plummer prepares to retire at the end of the year, she encourages people to come out and experience the orchestra’s music for themselves. She emphasized that she plans to “dance the whole year” with her students, and this concert is one step toward that goal.
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