Tela Choral/Chad Cannon: Music for the Ocean

Immerse yourself in the ocean—while sitting in the concert hall.

Music for the Ocean is an evening of new compositions and improvisations by Emmy-nominated violinist and composer Chad Cannon, performed with concert pianist Hui Wu. The performance features original animations by Timothy Rauch, stage and sound direction by William Chen, and lighting design by Evan Murnane. This show will also feature special guest harpist, Cate Cannon Todd.

The concert begins in coral reefs, where audiences follow the remarkable journey of coral larvae carried by ocean currents and guided by sound as they search for a place to settle and grow. Along the way, you’ll witness the bold territorial displays of the charismatic titan triggerfish and the surprising courtship rituals of a pufferfish, who builds intricate sand sculptures to impress a mate.

After intermission, the music descends into the deep sea, where electronic sounds evoke the extraordinary communication systems of creatures that use light and electricity to survive in darkness. The journey then returns to the ocean’s surface, where you’ll encounter the fascinating California sheephead, the strange choreography of a shrimp cleaning the teeth of a moray eel, and the explosive energy of dorado chasing flying fish.

The evening concludes with a wistful meditation on one of the ocean’s most endangered ecosystems: the last healthy “jungle” of elkhorn coral.

The oceans are under immense pressure from climate change, overfishing, global shipping, agricultural runoff, and deep-sea mining. Yet a new generation is rising to meet these challenges. Music for the Ocean offers an inspiring artistic experience grounded in the work of scientists and conservationists striving to protect coral reefs and other fragile marine environments.

In partnership with Tela Coral, the project aims to raise an initial $100,000 to help build the first coral gene bank and marine biology laboratory on the Honduran mainland—a facility dedicated to protecting and studying this extraordinary surviving elkhorn coral ecosystem.

The program concludes with a short panel discussion featuring Chad Cannon, Juli Berwald, Ph.D. of Tela Coral, and a local ocean expert from the Washington, D.C. area.

All Ages Welcome

Runtime: 1 hour and 30 minutes including a 15-minute intermission

Content Warning: Rare or mild references of grief. Regularly occurring usage of flashing or strobing lights.