Seattle|Local Event
A unique Earth Day weekend celebration bringing together music, ocean awareness, & connection.
A unique Earth Day weekend celebration bringing together music, ocean awareness, and community connection will take place in Seattle with the launch of Toki Spirit Earth Day Weekend, a three-day gathering inspired by the life and legacy of Tokitae, the beloved Southern Resident orca whose story awakened global awareness about the fragile ecosystems of the Salish Sea.
The weekend will feature concerts, a public ocean plunge, and a special storytelling dinner with the creators behind the project — composer Frederick West, storyteller Marcia Henton Davis, and collaborator Joe Olson — whose shared artistic journey gave rise to the powerful musical work The Orca Cantata and the song “Tokitae.”
The events are centered around West’s environmental choral composition, which premiered in October 2025 and honors the Southern Resident orcas and the waters they inhabit.
EARTH DAY WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday, April 24 — 7:30 PM
Concert Performance: The Orca Cantata
Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church
7500 Greenwood Ave North
Seattle, Washington
Performed by the Turquoise Vocal Ensemble & Voices of the Salish Sea, the concert features the entire work from the Orca Cantata along with other environmental works by composer Frederick West.
Listen to the song:
https://soundcloud.com/charliehiestand/tokitae-5/s-sT4JgJMl1H2
Saturday, April 25 — 2:00 PM
Toki Spirit “Sound for Change” Plunge
Golden Gardens Park
8498 Seaview PL. NW, Seattle, WA 98117
Community members are invited to gather for a symbolic ocean plunge celebrating the Salish Sea and raising awareness for the protection of the Southern Resident orcas. The event encourages participants to reflect on the small changes individuals can make in their daily lives to support the health of the planet.
Click Here to learn more about Golden Gardens Park.
Saturday Evening — 6:30 PM
Dinner with the Creators
Saffron Grill
2132 N Northgate Way
Seattle, Washington
Guests will gather for an intimate evening of drinks, dinner, and storytelling with Fredrick West, Joe Olson, and Marcia Henton Davis, who will share the remarkable story of how Toki’s Song and the Orca Cantata were created — a journey many describe as a real-life modern fairy tale. $250 per person.
Make your reservation, today by clicking here.
Sunday, April 26
Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church
7500 Greenwood Ave N
Seattle, Washington
3:00 PM — Orca Panel Discussion
A 45 minute panel of speakers with expertise on Cetaceans, with Joel Olsen, Marcia Henton Davis & Howard Garrett exploring ecological and cultural significance of the Southern Resident orcas.
4:00 PM — Matinee Concert Performance: The Orca Cantata
The Vision Behind Toki Spirit
The Toki Spirit initiative is built on a simple but powerful idea: that music and sound can inspire meaningful change.
The creators envision free concerts around the world that bring communities together to reflect on the natural world and encourage everyday actions that help restore the health of the planet.
These changes can be small but meaningful — composting food waste, improving energy efficiency at home, organizing neighborhood clean-ups, protecting local waterways, or simply reconnecting with the people we love and the communities we share.
At the heart of the project is the song “Tokitae,” composed by Frederick West, which has become the emotional foundation of the initiative.
Marcia Henton Davis, who helped bring the work to life, describes the inspiration as deeply personal.
“Tokitae touched millions of hearts,” Davis says. “I made a promise to her — that her story would continue to inspire people to care for the oceans and the living world around us.”
Through music, storytelling, and community gatherings, Toki Spirit hopes to spark a global movement where art becomes a catalyst for environmental awareness, compassion, and collective action.
A Weekend to Celebrate Earth and Community
Marcia Henton Davis said “The Earth Day weekend events are designed to bring together music lovers, environmental advocates, and community members for a shared experience centered on the beauty of the natural world and the enduring spirit of Tokitae.