Saturday June 6, 2026 1pm and 3pm

View the full program here!

A Field Guide to Imaginary Birds is a free, family-friendly musical listening tour designed with both families and bird enthusiasts in mind. Previously performed in Inwood Park in 2023 and Prospect Park in 2025, the interactive composition was conceived by Brad Balliett—bassoonist, composer, and passionate bird-watcher, and developed with Experiential Orchestra Music Director James Blachly.

Featuring seven wind musicians, each representing a unique imaginary bird, A Field Guide invites listeners to discover each bird’s solo song as well as the full ensemble, as their “songs” blend together and shift as the listener walks through the landscape where they are located (and sometimes hidden).

Part concert, part treasure hunt, A Field Guide to Imaginary Birds offers families and birders a shared opportunity to listen closely and discover the unique identities of each bird. After the tour, participants are invited to draw the birds they’ve heard, deepening their engagement through creativity and reflection. This interactive experience encourages curiosity, supports intergenerational learning, and fosters a sense of community through shared exploration and artistic expression.

Prior to each performance of Imaginary Birds, EXO will perform Brad Balliett's Arboretum, an experiential celebration of the forest and trees.

Meet at the Tennis House in Prospect Park (ca. 4 blocks into the park, east from 8th St. and Prospect Park West) at 12:45 or 2:45 to be led to the location for our 1pm and 3pm concerts.

Post-event, participants continue their exploration through creative work produced during the workshops and reflective materials shared with families and schools.

A Field Guide to Imaginary Birds is made possible in part with funds from Creative Engagement, a regrant program supported by The New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and the Howard Gilman Foundation, and administered by LMCC. Arboretum is presented in co-sponsorship with the League of Composers / ISCM.

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