ART HAS THE POWER TO DRAMATICALLY TRANSFORM LIFE FOR THE BETTER.
EDEN ENGAGEMENT directly activates that power in young people, igniting their imagination into action to address the environmental challenges they face, and giving them a voice to help create a new “EDEN” for themselves and their community.
Partnering with ITAC, the world-wide network of artists who work in community and educational settings, we are creating a new approach to prove that touring can be a legitimate and powerful tool for change in communities through our work with children and young people across the globe.In every Eden tour city, we engage a local youth choir to take part in a series of arts-based environmental workshops. Each choir learns the Eden Anthem ‘Seeds of Hope’ to perform with Joyce DiDonato as the encore to her Eden concerts.
‘The fantastic opportunity our students had working with Joyce to rehearse and film the song they had written and their performances with her at one of the most prestigious London concert venues, has been a transformational experience.’Dr Hilary Macaulay Executive Headteacher, Bishop Ramsey School
"The combination of bringing music and nature together was REVELATORY. I was amazed at the transformation in the children."Susan Stobbs , Pilot Workshop Teacher
"I know that my singers are able to dream bigger as artists and human beings because of Joyce's warmth, encouragement, and support."Eric Tuan, Artistic Director, Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir
"I feel this EDEN experience allowed the students to really know the value of their own voices in community, and how art can be a medium to express what matters to them."Natalie Fasheh, Toronto Teaching Artist
"I am now more appreciative of opera music because it is so beautiful. I also am now more appreciative of the gift trees provide for us"Niah, age 13, Eden Princeton
To mark Take Action Global’s ‘Climate Action Day’, a new EDEN Anthem, ‘Endless Sky’, was premiered on 2nd November 2023 in a special video performance involving 500 young people who are just a small part of the growing ‘EDEN family’ of singers! The sheet music is available for free download at the bottom of the video.
ITAC designs and delivers EDEN Engagement, which has teaching artists in every tour city creatively engaging with young people in workshops (in some cities as many as a series of six) to raise their environmental awareness, knowledge, and sense of agency to make a difference with their actions.
If you would like to support our ongoing Engagement program, please contact us here.
Joyce would like to thank the Hilti Foundation for their generous support of the EDEN Engagement programme.
Joyce DiDonato would like to graciously thank the following for their generous support of EDEN:
Bernard and Barbro Osher, Helen Berggruen, The Getty Foundation, Sara Morgan, Franci Neely, John Studzinski, Ann Ziff, McDermott Foundation, Kern Wildenthal, Mary Ellen Clark, Linda Nelson, John Singer, Camilla Smith, Dame Janet Baker, Michael Beverly, DL, Sarah Billinghurst Solomon Foundation, Nancy Dehmlow, Katherine G. Farley, Tom and Pamela Frame, Richard Gaddes, Eva Haller, Joan and Louise Harris, INSPIRATUM, David Jacobs, Eric Laub, Ellen Marcus, Kavita and Anupam Mishra, Frank and Lynne Modruson, Alexandra Nichols and Sir Simon Robey.
Joyce would like to thank the Hilti Foundation for their generous support of the EDEN Engagement programme.
EDEN has been commissioned by University Musical Society of the University of Michigan; the Harriman-Jewell Series, Kansas City; Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation; Cal Performances at University of California, Berkeley; Stanford Live; and UC Santa Barbara Arts & Lectures.
Copyright © 2024. All Rights Reserved. Concept: Joyce DiDonato
Photos: Sergi Jasanada | Art Direction: Joyce DiDonato & Catherine Pisaroni
Album artwork & website design: Lenny’s Studio
Stylist: Angel Cabezuelo. Makeup: De María.