"FOR THE BIRDS" ON TOUR
Live music, images and poetry invite reflection on our changing climate
For the Birds on Tour features a jazz duo performing the original music of Seattle pianist and composer Nelda Swiggett. But this is not just a concert. The performance engages the power of artistic expression — live music, spoken words, images and poetry — to connect audiences emotionally to the scientific realities of climate change through the lens of birds. Ultimately a story of hope, audiences leave the performance feeling empowered to take meaningful action.
Birds are on the frontlines of climate change as increasing numbers of extreme weather events disrupt the rhythms of the natural world. The number of birds in North America has declined by 29 percent since 1970, and the rate of decline is accelerating. What can one individual do to make a positive difference for birds — for all living things? For the Birds provides some answers.
Nelda debuted her first climate-themed concert, The Alaska Suite: a story of beauty, loss and hope, on Earth Day 2017. Building on the success of the Alaska Suite, Nelda debuted For the Birds in September 2024. Collectively, these concerts have been performed 47 times to date across Washington state, touching over 3500 people with a message of hope and call to action.
Nelda’s work featured nationally on NPR’s “Here & Now”
Climate change can be daunting. One woman creates music to help process feelings around it.
What Audiences Are Saying
“For the Birds” beautifully bridges science, art, and emotion, helping audiences connect with the very real impacts of climate change on birds and the natural world we all share. It’s a powerful reminder that hope and action grow when people feel inspired to care.” — Ellie Yamanaka, Birds Connect Seattle, Communications Manager
“… wonderfully inspiring… The content was informative without being preachy, the music was magical…” — Gail M.
“Wow! So powerful, beautiful, sad, and mournful, but buoyant, hopeful, and joyful too. I love that it ended with a sense of gratitude and optimism. I was moved and inspired and feel lucky to have witnessed the debut performance.” — Andrew Miracle
“You will learn things you didn’t know about birds and about climate change and what you can do about it. Eye opening and uplifting.” — Maggi Johnson
“For the Birds” is really truly a powerful, powerful piece. We humans of course are affected by amazing works of art in the moment, when we are listening or viewing. But “For the Birds” has stayed with me for days. It landed very deeply with me and I know it did with others as well. — Kim Maguire
“… spliced with a dialogue about climate science and solutions. It touches the emotional edges of our understanding and invites action from a deeper place.” — Louise Stonington, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Washington state coordinator
”… the quintet’s performance was stellar… Many in the audience told us the haunting music and urgent message both moved them and motivated them to become more involved in climate activism.” — Keith Ervin, chair of Green Buildings Now
“Alaska Suite was such a meaningful performance and truly shifted the way I move through the world (literally – my car broke down weeks after the performance and we decided to replace it with an EV as a direct result of your concert). — Stephen O’ Bent
“… conversations and emails have been “a buzz” of enthusiasm and appreciation for your concert and climate message. It was indeed remarkable…” — Linda Jack
“Climate change may ultimately be the only issue that counts, and that lesson is being painfully reiterated in frequency and severity, with every new passing season on this little planet, which is our sole refuge. We need as much of this type of education as we can get. It will hopefully be an increasingly influential reinforcement and catalyst to us all doing everything we can do to save ourselves, before it’s too late.” — Ron Ward
About the Musicians
Nelda Swiggett (compositions, piano, narrative, curated images) has been a vibrant force in the Pacific Northwest jazz scene since the early 1990s. Her compositions blend jazz with Afro-Cuban, gospel and classical influences, creating a distinctive and engaging sound. Swiggett’s ensembles, including her trio, quintet, and sextet, have graced stages at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Bumbershoot, and the Earshot Jazz Festival. She is an award-winning composer and OA2 recording artist — her five album releases have received rave reviews and extensive airplay around the globe.
Nelda is a Seattle native, and spent much of her childhood hiking, climbing and skiing the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. Her father Jack Christiansen was a passionate explorer of the wilderness. From a young age, Nelda followed him deep into the heart of the Olympic and Cascade mountains, mostly off trail, route finding with map and compass. When she entered the University of Washington, she was a classical piano performance major, until a serious ski accident landed her in a hospital bed in traction for two months. When she returned to college, she dropped out of the music program, fell in love with jazz, earned a Bachelor of Science in Scientific and Technical Communication, and embarked on a dual career as a technical writer and jazz musician. Who knew this combination of experiences and skills would later inspire her to communicate the science of climate change through the power of music. www.neldaswiggett.com/
Clif Swiggett (trombone, percussion, climate science & policy, producer) is a powerhouse of the Seattle jazz scene, known for his virtuosic improvisation and deep rhythmic command. He grew up outside New York City playing professionally as a teenager, sharing the stage backing legendary jazz icons including Dizzy Gillespie, Phil Woods, and Randy Brecker, and touring with the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Clif currently plays lead trombone with many of Seattle’s top big bands and is a core member of the critically acclaimed Megabopolis and the Forman-Finley Band. This past year, he’s added to his extensive discography with featured recordings on two highly anticipated albums. Clif also served as Carbon Washington’s Policy Chair helping to pass Washington’s landmark Climate Commitment Act.
The performance also features the poetry of Jill McGrath. Jill has had 46 original poems published in literary magazines, including Salish Magazine, Dorothy Parker’s Ashes, The Blue Heron Review, The Last Stanza Poetry Journal, The Seattle Review, The Hurricane Review, and Arnazella’s Reading List. She published a chapbook, The Rune of Salt Air, and is currently working on her second book of poetry.