Listen to the Earth Project
Listen to the Earth has been postponed
All of the events: concert, symposium, documentary films
are reschedule for April 22-24, 2022.
To honor the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, Choral Artists of Sarasota is hosting Listen to the Earth Project – Friday, April 22 through Sunday, April 24, 2022. Planet Earth takes a front seat through the eyes of regional and national experts and a world premiere performance of Listen to the Earth by James Grant, commissioned by Choral Artists and the families of Richard and Daniel Moe.
Recognized by the Smithsonian Institution as a sister-related activity of the Earth Optimism Summit and an official activity of the Earth Day Organization, Choral Artists initiated the project to raise environmental awareness through the power of music.
Guest Speaker Jane Alexander, award-winning actress and author of Wild Things, Wild Places: Adventurous Tales of Wildlife and Conservation on Planet Earth, and Dr. Terry Root, environmental scientist and co-recipient of the Nobel Prize, spearhead a panel of specialists to illuminate the state of our environment.
We are the Earth’s stewards and it is our noble responsibility to take care of our planet.
Featured Guests
James Grant 
Jane Alexander 
Dr. Terry Root 
Jon Thaxton 
Stevie Freeman-Montes 
Dr. Emily Hall
Click to learn more about featured guests.
Listen to the Earth Events
Friday, April 22
Jewish Federation of Sarasota/Manatee
Beatrice Friedman Theater
10:30 am – 2:30 pm
582 McIntosh Rd.
Sarasota, Florida 34232
10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Chasing Ice (2012)
1hr 15 m
12:45 – 2:15 pm
Chasing Coral (2017)
1hr 33m
Documentary Screenings
10:30 Chasing Ice (2012) 1hr 15m
In Chasing Ice, acclaimed National Geographic photographer James Balog, once a skeptic about climate change, deploys revolutionary time-lapse cameras to capture a multi-year record of the world’s changing glaciers.
2014 News and Documentary Emmy® award for Outstanding Nature Programming.
12:45 Chasing Coral (2017) 1hr 33m
Coral reefs around the world are vanishing at an unprecedented rate. Divers, photographers, and scientists set out on an ocean adventure to discover why the reefs are disappearing, revealing the underwater mystery to the world.
2018 Peabody Award – Documentary
Celebration Reception
Meet featured keynote speaker, celebrated actress, author and former head of the National Endowment for the Arts Jane Alexander, award-winning composer Dr. James Grant, environmental scientist and Nobel Prize winner Dr. Terry Root, Artistic Director of Choral Artists Dr. Joseph Holt, baritone soloist Marcus DeLoach and other weekend participants for this kick-off reception for the Listen to the Earth Project Weekend. Wine and light bites will be served.
State of the Earth
Keynote speaker award-winning actress Jane Alexander offers her thoughts and commentary on the state of the environment. Adding to the conversation and offering concrete action for the audience in a panel discussion will be environmental scientist Dr. Terry Root, City of Sarasota Sustainability Manager Stevie Freeman-Montes, Mote Marine Staff Scientist Dr. Emily Hall and natural environment activist Jon Thaxton.
Listen to the Earth World Premiere Concert
World Premiere performance of Listen to the Earth by James Grant at the Sarasota Opera House features the Choral Artists of Sarasota, Sarasota Young Voices, baritone Marcus DeLoach and chamber orchestra under the direction of Joseph Holt, Artistic Director. Our universe is highlighted in this unique ecologically themed program, including Ola Gjeilo’s Song of the Universal, Canticle of the Sun, Lunar Lullaby and Chief Seattle’s Psalm by Daniel Moe.
Champagne reception in the Courtyard follows the performance.
