“Eco-Art Song and the Climate Crisis”

“Eco-art song is an emerging form of art song that uses climate texts to create songs directly related to climate change,” said Vocal Performance and German Studies major Kendra Lund ’25. “There are plenty of art songs that deal with the beauty of nature, but the idea of art songs directly relating to the climate crisis is somewhat new.”

Furman Eco Reps hosted a special afternoon to celebrate Eco-art song at the university’s Daniel Chapel earlier this month. The event featured 17 students and faculty sharing their artistic talents.

The Eco Reps Program at Furman trains student leaders to promote sustainable practices across campus. They volunteer to work within residence halls to model sustainable behaviors and share regular educational programs and activities with the goal of creating a culture of sustainability.

The seed for the event was planted when Lund attended a young artist program called Songfest in Claremont, Calif. Lund, also an Eco Rep at Furman, was drawn to a program lecture about how artists can play their part as climate activists.

“It sparked an idea for a project I wanted to spearhead for my senior year here at Furman. I reached out to Hailey Anthum Hunter, my collaborative pianist and vocal coach, my applied voice teacher Dr. Grant Knox, my choral director Dr. Stephen Gusukuma, as well as several students about the idea,” said Lund, who organized the event with Anthum Hunter.

Shi Student Fellow Stella Frisbie shared more details about the Eco Reps’ mission during the performance, which also raised funds for Greenville non-profit Upstate Forever.

Songs performed during the recital were: “Nature, the Gentlest Mother” by Aaron Copland, “Where Corals Lie” by Edward Elgar, “Die Forelle” by Franz Schubert, “Endless Space” by Nico Muhly, “Love, Let the Wind Cry,” by Undine Smith Moore, “The Ocean” by Scott Joiner, “It’s All I Have to Bring Today” by Ernst Bacon, and “Crickets” by Tom Cipullo.

Participants in the recital with Lund included: Assistant Professor Stephen Gusukuma, Lecturer Lisa Barksdale, Collaborative Pianist Hailey Anthum Hunter, Pender Raymond ’27, Cameron Mitchell ’25, Gayle Rhodes ’25, Jeremiah Reid ’28, Andrew Cooter ’25, Noah Nussbaum ’25, Kelsie Barrineau ’25, Colleen Allard-Smith ’25, Virginia St. Clair ’27, Samuel Hunter, Will Jordan ’26, Hannah Palmer ’25 and Christian Dukes ’25.

“Sustainability and climate activism have always been passions of mine, and this recital was an opportunity to see the culmination of these interests,” Lund said.