Swallow Hill Music’s CEO Jessy Clark remembers her friend, and Denver Botanic Gardens CEO, Brian Vogt.
Like a lot of people in Denver, here at Swallow Hill we are looking forward to producing another summer of unforgettable musical experiences at the Denver Botanic Gardens Summer Concert Series.
This season will be unlike any other, though, as we join those who treasure Denver’s arts and cultural organizations in mourning the loss of our friend and colleague, Gardens CEO Brian Vogt.
Beginning in 2007, Brian completely transformed the Gardens. His leadership and vision created a botanic garden that Coloradans could be proud of, with internationally renowned science, collections, and projects in sustainability that outpaced even our wildest imagination. It’s an incredible place to visit, and gave many people in the community respite during hard times, including COVID. He achieved his vision of creating a garden where everyone could enjoy and participate in the beauty of nature.
Swallow Hill and the Denver Botanic Gardens have partnered in the Summer Concert Series since 2010. Brian was pivotal in selecting us as their partner in producing the series, and it has forever changed the complexion of Swallow Hill. The partnership allowed us to dream bigger, and program bigger, which continues to allow us to do the same in communities throughout the Denver Metro Region.
When it was first formed, the partnership catapulted us into a time of new growth where we could invest in our own infrastructure due to the financial success of the Summer Concert Series. We are forever grateful for this partnership, and thankful to Brian for believing in our mission, and allowing our work to flourish in a beautiful environment.
For the cultural community, Brian’s legacy will forever live on through his mentorship of many professionals, including myself. He believed in and invested in many other community organizations and neighborhoods, and that, together, we could create a better world. It was an honor to work with Brian.
Beyond that, Brian was my friend, and it won’t be the same this summer to take in a concert and know I won’t be able to look over and see him. Still, all of us at Denver Botanic Gardens and Swallow Hill Music can take pride in the knowledge that each Summer Concert Series performance will ensure that Brian’s legacy and commitment to the Gardens will live on.
Jessy Clark
CEO, Swallow Hill Music