Photo: Simon Pauly

Renowned mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato joined school children from London’s Bishop Ramsey CE School Canterbury Choir to create and record a new song for Earth Day called “Seeds of Hope.”

Erato Records released the song on April 22, 2022—Earth Day. The song is part of a global engagement program that connects young people with nature through music. “Seeds of Hope” is part of DiDonato’s EDEN project, which includes a recording released on the Warner Classics Erato label and a 45-venue tour.

Nature was integral to creating the song, with DiDonato inviting children to plant bulbs and seeds. The mezzo-soprano asked the children to think about the question: “What if trees could sing?” From their reflections, the children created lyrics and melodies stitched together by their teacher, Mike Roberts. The children also created a music video released the same day in partnership with Classic FM.

“It touched me to see how the children began to notice the nature around them—foxes, trees, birds, and beetles – and to fall in love with it in a new way,” DiDonato stated in the press release. “Part of EDEN’s mission is to challenge everyone who encounters it to stop and observe the beauty that is present all around them. Sometimes it requires a shift of focus, and sometimes it comes from an inspiring infusion of art and beauty created in real-time.”

The sheet music for “Seeds of Hope” is available on DiDonato’s EDEN website.