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The story of Galva and Cambridge, Illinois, begins with one man—John Taylor—who is transforming his community through music. A computer programmer by trade, John served a tour of duty in Iraq in 2004. When he returned to civilian life, he immediately felt a void he couldn’t quite explain. “I missed my fellow soldiers more than I ever thought possible,” John shared.

He sought peace by trying various therapies. “I tried everything, I went to therapy and tried everything they suggested,” but none of it brought the sense of relief he was seeking.  Having always loved music and having played in bands growing up, John turned to music for comfort. “I didn’t think anything would help me at that point, but I knew I always loved music, so I decided to immerse myself in concerts and live music whenever possible, and it always made me feel better,” John explained.  “I figured if nothing was going to help me, then I’d just do what I enjoy and listen to as much music as possible.”  Little did he know, that’s what would ultimately help him reconnect.

John began attending as many concerts as possible and gradually developed relationships with other music enthusiasts.  “It felt like I accidentally found the one thing that seemed to heal me—not right away, but over time,” he said.  “It helped me reconnect to the community socially, and the rest just sort of took care of itself.”

In 2016, John started hosting concerts at his home in nearby Cambridge, Illinois.  The backyard concerts were a big hit, attracting many people, and it quickly became clear they would need a larger venue.  They initially started a project to build a stage in the park in Cambridge, and simultaneously they pursued a venue in nearby Galva, where they found strong support right from the start.

The residents of Galva rallied behind the idea, and the group decided to apply for a Levitt AMP grant—a national foundation dedicated to strengthening the social fabric of America through free live music.  The Galva Arts Council, which had been around for nearly 35 years, got behind the project, encouraging the community to vote daily for what was a very competitive grant.  Their hard work paid off, and they were awarded the grant.

By 2019, both stages—one in Galva and the other in Cambridge—were completed, and the concerts began to bring people together.  Then, in 2020, COVID-19 happened.  “We weren’t sure how we could continue the concerts live,” John said.  To adapt, they created a nonprofit called Play It Forward, where musicians would play at one of the venues, and the performances were live-streamed into people’s homes.  Over 20 musicians performed during a four-week period, each making about $500 in donations, which helped them get through the pandemic.

This goodwill toward artists helped establish long-term relationships with musicians.  “Now, many of them call me asking when they can come back to play next,” John said.

As the music in the park events have grown, so has the spirit of volunteerism.  Galva now has a façade program as part of its downtown revitalization, and many community members have volunteered to support these efforts.  As it turns out, music was exactly what the community needed to reconnect.

John's passion has sparked a ripple effect.  Volunteerism has flourished, with residents actively participating in downtown revitalization efforts.  Music has catalyzed community development, bringing Galva, Cambridge, and even neighboring Bishop Hill together in a shared love of the arts. John's non-profit, Crossroads Cultural Connections, ensures the future of these vibrant music venues.  Galva and Cambridge offer a powerful testament to the power of music to heal, connect, and inspire.  These charming towns are not just places to live – they're where music fills the air and the spirit of community thrives.