Cornell Composers Showcase Music Exploring Environmental Issues

New library exhibit features works by students, alumni, and faculty addressing nature, ecology, and climate change.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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A multimedia exhibition at the Cornell University Library, titled "Music of the Natural World: Cornell Composers on Nature, Ecology, and Climate," will showcase scores, videos, and sound recordings by Cornell composers that explore environmental themes. The exhibit, curated by music librarian Lenora Schneller, aims to offer visitors a space to "slow down, listen deeply, and cultivate a greater appreciation for the natural world through music." Featured works include compositions by Cornell alumni and faculty that celebrate the beauty of nature as well as confront ecological challenges.

Why it matters

The exhibit demonstrates how music can be a powerful medium for raising environmental awareness and inspiring action. By showcasing diverse musical responses to the ecological crises of our time, the exhibition provides a platform for Cornell's composers to share their artistic perspectives on nature, climate change, and sustainability.

The details

The exhibition will feature works by Cornell alumni such as "High Water Rising" by Sally Lamb McCune, "The Seas Between Us" by Eric Nathan, and "Vanished Voices: A Farewell to the 'Ō'ō" by Takuma Itoh, as well as compositions by faculty members like "Sinfonía No. 6" by Roberto Sierra and "Silent Spring" by the late Steven Stucky. On opening day, DMA composition student James Parker will present an interactive installation called "Grayspace" that explores the materiality of music-making and the environmental sounds that mingle with conventional music.

  • The exhibition "Music of the Natural World" opens on February 20, 2026 at the Sidney Cox Library of Music and Dance.
  • James Parker's interactive installation "Grayspace" will be presented on February 20, 2026 at 4:45 p.m.

The players

Lenora Schneller

The music librarian at Cornell University Library who curated the "Music of the Natural World" exhibition.

Sally Lamb McCune

A Cornell alumna (DMA '98) whose work "High Water Rising" is featured in the exhibition.

Eric Nathan

A Cornell alumnus (DMA '12) whose work "The Seas Between Us" is featured in the exhibition.

Takuma Itoh

A Cornell alumnus (DMA '12) whose work "Vanished Voices: A Farewell to the 'Ō'ō" is featured in the exhibition.

Roberto Sierra

A faculty member in the Cornell Department of Music whose work "Sinfonía No. 6" is featured in the exhibition.

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What they’re saying

“We invite visitors to experience the natural world - and its fragility - through works by Cornell composers, including current students, alumni and faculty. Some pieces celebrate the beauty and resilience of the planet, while others confront the devastating impacts of ecological loss.”

— Lenora Schneller, Music Librarian (Mirage News)

“The piece is interested in the materiality of music making, what physical resources go into making the music that is represented in the books of the library. One of the aims of the piece is to increase an awareness and appreciation of these environmental sounds as they mingle with more conventionally musical ones.”

— James Parker, DMA Composition Student (Mirage News)

What’s next

The exhibition "Music of the Natural World" will be on display at the Sidney Cox Library of Music and Dance at Cornell University from February 20 to May 31, 2026.

The takeaway

This exhibition showcases how Cornell's composers are using music as a powerful medium to raise awareness about environmental issues and inspire action. By blending compositions that celebrate nature's beauty with those that confront ecological challenges, the exhibit offers visitors a multifaceted exploration of the relationship between music and the natural world.