Reflections of an eco-minded musician
By Frank Horvat
Through instrumental piano music, it explores themes like Earth Hour, poverty, and even 9-11. When all this creative output was complete, I couldn’t help but feel empty. After all, how is piano music going to change the world? This is how the Green Keys Tour was born…
I decided to organize and present a sustainably-minded concert tour. Since March 27, 2010 (Earth Hour), I have traveled to every province in Canada only using public modes of transportation, giving free concerts and showcasing local businesses that are doing their part for sustainability. Additionally, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of A Little Dark Music is being donated to WWF-Canada.
Green Keys Tour, St. John (c) Frank Horvat
What have I learned after visiting over 50 cities in the past year?
Every region in Canada has their environmental issues that are most important to them. But one thing was the same everywhere I went: leaders in each community are making the steps towards sustainability. The thing that makes it extra special, though, is that those leaders are regular people, just like you and me. They find their passion and go with it. Some have started a green team at their church, others have organized local farmers and found a market for their food in their own communities, and many have organized citizen coalitions to stop projects that will damage their local eco-system… and on and on the stories and ideas go. How good I feel to be part of this collective of activists!
When you’re away from home, you think a lot about food! It’s amazing how difficult it can be to get healthy food when you’re on the run. Everywhere I went, people’s passion for good food is strong. This was evident in the cities where my local sponsors were in the food business – whether we were sipping organic tea in Victoria, nibbling on organic concord grapes in Kelowna, or smelling fair trade coffee in Fredericton. We got spurred on to talk about enviro project ideas by sharing these wonderful foods.
Then of course at the concerts there was the music. Listening to Earth Hour requires you sit in the dark for one hour. With just the music and your own private thoughts in your head, many people left the concerts re-charged with energy to try more things.
The biggest thing that I come away with from doing the Green Keys Tour is the power of the human spirit. To have people shake my hand and speak passionately, or create art because of attending a concert, or help spread the word, my little adventure reminds me that we all have the power to inspire the world to be a better place, regardless of what we do for a living.
Now as I wrap up the Canadian leg of the tour on Wednesday, March 9, at the Hart Music Room on the downtown campus of the University of Toronto, I reflect on all the people I met across the country who are leading in their professions. We can all be part of this ripple effect across the country. Start by checking out the conversations happening at www.facebook.com/frankhorvatmusic and of course www.facebook.com/wwfcanada.
