As the 2026 Woodhaven Artist in Residence, Canadian composer Frank Horvat is performing a free concert at Woodhaven Eco Culture Centre in Kelowna on July 22.
What: Earth Hour Concert
Who: Canadian composer Frank Horvat
When: Wednesday, July 22 from 8 to 9:45 pm
Where: Woodhaven Eco Culture Centre, 969 Raymer Rd., Kelowna
Contemporary Canadian composer Frank Horvat is the 2026 Woodhaven Artist in Residence.
He will spend four weeks at the centre, where he will work on a new composition in his Earth Hour series, his decades-spanning series of solo piano compositions.
“This series responds to the climate crisis, the pursuit of a more sustainable future and humanity’s evolving relationship with the natural world,” explains Horvat.
UBC Okanagan’s Woodhaven Artist in Residence Program, sponsored by the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies, provides a paid residency for a variety of visiting artists, including writers, visual artists, digital media artists and performance artists.
WholeNote Magazine called Horvat “one of the most inventive songwriters to come out of the contemporary scene in Canada.” CBC Classical says he’s “carved a niche for himself among today’s composers, wearing his fragile heart on his sleeve.” His work moves between themes of love, the environment and social justice, drawing on deeply personal stories while giving listeners space to ponder their own.
During the residency in Kelowna, Horvat is offering a free public performance at the Woodhaven Eco Culture Centre of Earth Hour 1, performed for the first time outside, in darkness, with the forest as the concert hall.
Horvat says his connection to Kelowna runs deep. In late March 2010, he released Earth Hour (EH1) on his album A Little Dark Music. Conceived as a 60-minute solo piano work to be performed entirely in darkness, it toured to more than 60 cities across North America as part of his sustainably driven, Green Keys Tour — a project exploring how music can heal, connect communities and spark meaningful conversations about environmental responsibility.
“One of the most memorable and magical evenings of that tour took place in Kelowna. The audience, the post-concert conversations, and my continued dialogue with the event organizer left a lasting impression on me,” he says.
That experience affirmed Horvat’s commitment to creating long-form, eco-focused works that give audiences the time and space to immerse themselves in the music.
“When I learned about this Woodhaven Eco Culture Centre residency, a retreat committed to exploring sustainable and just ways of being in relationship with the natural world, I immediately recognized it as the right place for the next chapter of this project,” Horvat says.
The space at Woodhaven offers a contemplative experience in a natural setting, explains Associate Professor Kevin Chong, creative writing instructor and member of the selection committee.
“The committee had more than 100 applications to review for this summer, making it a tough choice to decide on just one person to invite,” says Chong. “Frank Horvat’s accomplishments are impressive. As well, his connection to the region and his plan to engage with the community were appealing.”
The outdoor performance is free and open to all. There will be a brief amount of time before the concert for a composer chat. The performance begins at 8:45 pm.
To attend the event, RSVP to fccs.ubco@ubc.ca. For more information about the residency, visit: fccs.ok.ubc.ca/artist-in-residence
