Emma Hill performs in front of Cuddy Hall on May 19. Photo by Matthew Schmitz.
Members of the UAA community came out to the Cuddy Quad on Friday, May 19, to listen to live music and get a meal during the first “Concert in the Quad” of the summer.
UAA Special Events coordinated with Student Life and Leadership to bring musician Emma Hill and the Papaya Tree food truck to UAA. The concert took place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The skies were overcast, and the clouds that threatened rain, but it never came.
On the north end of the quad, in front of Cuddy Hall, Hill performed a solo act to various members of the UAA community, who were eating at picnic tables set up in the quad for the event.
Around 50 people sat at the tables and listened to Hill play her guitar and sing. Her style of music is probably best described as folk.
Speaking with TNL, Hill said that she performed at the concert series last summer and that she has performed regularly at UAA over the past 12 years.
Hill is a musician based in Anchorage, originally from Alaska. Her recent project called “Park Songs” is available on bandcamp. According to its description, “‘Park Songs’ is an interactive, multimedia project merging music, photography, and literature to fully immerse the viewer in my experience of and appreciation for US National Parks.”
The concert coincided with UAA’s Staff Appreciation Day. Staff were able to get a free hot dog with chips — grilled up by Associate Director of Student Life and Leadership Zac Clark — or a discounted meal from the Papaya Tree food truck.
Students were able to get a free hot dog with chips or a free meal from the food truck.
According to Papaya Tree’s website, they serve “unmessed with Southeast Asian street food.” Their menu includes Pad Thai, chicken and pork skewers, fried rice, rolls, tea and salad.
Molly Gray, special events manager for University Advancement, brought together various university organizations to help put on the show.
She said that facilities and maintenance were responsible for setting up the picnic tables, providing trash cans and getting the grounds of the quad prepared for the event.
She said that this is the second year they’ve put on the summer concert series.
Gray said that the “Concert in the Quad” came about when Chancellor Sean Parnell said he wanted to do something on campus for students over the summer.
Normally, they get two food trucks to serve lunch at the concerts, she said. But with the event being on Friday — to align with Staff Appreciation Day — they could not find another truck that was not booked.
She said there will be two food trucks at the other two concerts planned this summer on June 27 and July 25, the fourth Tuesday of each month.
Details about the performances and food trucks will be released on the university calendar and by email as the dates approach.
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