Above: The front of the Hope Abbey Mausoleum, a restored Art Deco building in the Egyptian Revival style on the grounds of the Eugene Masonic Cemetery (photo by Randi Bjornstad)
NOTE: This story has been updated to reflect changes in future performances in the “Music to Die For” schedule.
By Randi Bjornstad
“Music to Die For” — the whimsically named summer concert series that takes place in the wonderfully acoustical Hope Abbey Mausoleum at the Eugene Masonic Cemetery — continues at 2 p.m. on July 30.
Dianne Dugaw and Rachel Marcotte perform as Buffalo Gals
The performers will be the Buffalo Gals, in real life musicians Dianne Dugaw and Rachel Marcotte, playing and singing their favorite old-time American songs, hymns and dance tunes.
It’s easy to keep track of the “Music to Die For” calendar: The performances take place on the last Sunday of the month from June through October.
There’s no charge for these concerts, but donations to help maintain and improve the nonprofit historic cemetery and its beautifully restored Art Deco mausoleum are welcome.
Future concerts in the series will be:
Aug. 27 — Fun, original Oregon string band music with Wild Hog in the Woods
Sept. 24 — Classical and popular chamber music by “Ambassador Musicians,” advanced strings students from the Eugene/Springfield Youth Orchestras
Oct. 29 — Acoustic strings and marimba, from Appalachian to Cajun to Swedish fiddle tunes and maybe some bluegrass and country, by Jim Dotson, Alan Phillips, Sam Jones, John Hicks and Scoop McQuire in a band called Western Tanager
The mausoleum is located in the Eugene Masonic Cemetery, up a path from the main entrance at the corner of East 25th Avenue and University Street. People with mobility issues who need special help getting into the mausoleum and need to arrange to use the closer gate may call 541-684-0949 or email emca1859@efn.org.
For more information about the Eugene Masonic Cemetery, go online to eugenemasoniccemetery.org/
