Meet the pioneering orchestra playing music that celebrates nature

Orchestra for the Earth was set up by conductor John Warner in 2017 with a mission to promote the importance of caring for and protecting our planet. It is driven by the belief that classical music is for everyone, and a greener future is a fairer future. This pioneering orchestra is performing one of the ‘Gigs at Gaia’ in the atmospheric surroundings of St Wilfrid’s Church, Harrogate, on July 4. Here, John Warner, an emerging talent in the world of conducting, talks about his passion for music and the natural world…

Who inspired you to first start performing?

I was inspired to found Orchestra for the Earth when I realised that I could use my training as a musician to communicate with audiences about my other great passion, which is the natural world. Especially as someone particularly worried about the climate and environmental crisis, I was and am extremely motivated to use my own profession to make a positive difference.

What have been your music career highlights so far?

Every year Orchestra for the Earth makes a tour to the Alps, travelling around Austria, Germany and Italy to remote and beautiful locations that were a huge inspiration to many composers such as Mahler, Brahms and Strauss. It’s always the highlight of my year! We travel exclusively by land to reduce our carbon footprint, and it’s a really wonderful way to tour.

What advice would you give upcoming artists wanting to follow in your footsteps?

Work on your relationships with your friends and colleagues. For me, music is all about creating something with other people, and the most rewarding experiences always come out of that.

Describe your programme in three words.

Earth, Sea, Sky

Do you have any pre-concert rituals?

None. I just like chatting with my colleagues: sometimes about the concert, sometimes not.

What do you most enjoy about performing live and why is it still important in our digital age?

I love recordings and I love the fact that, with the internet, it’s possible to access so much music from home, but nothing beats the sense of risk and spontaneity you get live – you can never recreate that without other people in the room.

If you could collaborate with any other artist, past or present, who would it be and why?

I would love to have heard and seen Mahler conduct. By all accounts it was both terrifying and wonderful!

What music are you listening to at the moment?

Schubert’s songs