A local composer will have his work performed as part of the 2026 Midwest Sustainability Summit, a major conference focused on climate change and sustainability.
Composer Kaleel Skeirik will premiere their piece “Rain,” a unique fusion of music, poetry, environmental awareness, and community participation, during the conference’s Art & Performance Showcase on June 12 at 4:30 p.m. at the Sharonville Convention Center.
Inspired by the elemental power of water and its role as the foundation of all life, Rain combines a women’s vocal quartet, marimbas, piano, spoken narration and a body-percussion ensemble that recreates the sound and movement of rainfall. Audience members are also invited to participate, becoming part of the sonic landscape as the performance unfolds.
“Rain reminds us that water connects every living thing,” Skeirik said in a statement. “The work celebrates the beauty and necessity of rain while inviting listeners to experience themselves as participants in the larger rhythms of nature.”
Set to the 1911 poem “Rain” by acclaimed Puerto Rican-American poet William Carlos Williams, the work explores rain as both a physical and emotional force.
The 2026 Midwest Sustainability Summit, hosted by local nonprofit Green Umbrella, is part of Cincy Climate Week 2026. The event brings together nearly 100 speakers, exhibitors, artists and community leaders to explore practical solutions for climate resilience and sustainability, with an expected audience of 600 conference attendees.
This year’s theme, “Adapt Today, Thrive Tomorrow,” emphasizes building a thriving future for communities across the Midwest.
