Songs for the Whales
of Southeast Alaska
August 31 & September 1, 2024
This year’s events are presented in partnership with the Sitka Fine Arts Camp. Learn more about them here.
Illustration by Rebecca Poulson
Whale songs and whale sounds interwoven with uncommon musical performances.
When we really listen to our underwater neighbors, what can we learn?
Join us for an oceanic listening experience, followed by Q&A with Lauren Wild from the Sitka Whale Lab.
Since 2019, we’ve been collaborating with scientists Jan Straley and Lauren Wild from the Sitka Whale Lab, combining their field recordings of whale vocalizations in Southeast Alaska with our unique brand of chamber music. This Labor Day Weekend, we’re bringing an entire concert of whale music to Sitka.
Featuring…
Field recordings of humpbacks, sperm whales, and orcas by Jan Straley and Lauren Wild from the UAS Whale Lab
Singing and new compositions from Ariadne Lih and Nate Barnett
Sound design by Emil Ernström
Words from poets and writers, including Richard Nelson and Alexis Pauline Gumbs, who love whales as much as Sitka does
Together, we’ll make space to listen deeply to the whales that visit Sitka year after year, and ask ourselves what we can learn from them.
Illustration by Cora Dow
Join Us
August 31, 7pm | Odess Theater @ Sitka Fine Arts Campus
In partnership with the Sitka Fine Arts Camp.
September 1, 2pm | Down Bar @ Mean Queen
Ground floor of the Mean Queen at 205 Harbor Drive. The bar will be open. All ages welcome.
Free admission! No tickets required. Donate if you can.
The concert lasts about an hour.
Masks are strongly encouraged and will be available at the door.
Both venues are wheelchair accessible.
Contact directors@uncommonmusicfest.org for more details.
Listen to recordings of our 2019 Workshop on our Soundcloud.
Watch a video of our 2020 whale music project, “In the beginning,” on text by Ishmael Hope, on our YouTube channel.