TEAM

Gordon Hempton, Co-Founder, Media Affairs, Acting Director of Quiet Conservation Areas

I am an acoustic ecologist. I care very deeply about quiet. As The Sound Tracker® I have circled the globe three times over the last 37 years in pursuit of Earth’s rarest nature sounds—sounds which can only be fully appreciated in the absence of manmade noise. (Read Full Bio)

Mitsue Cook, Advisor

My love for Quiet began when I was a child floating on my back for hours in the sunny aquamarine waters of my hometown beach in the Hawaiian Islands. As an adult, in the early mornings, I trained for triathlons running on that same beach and swimming past buoy markers used by canoe paddlers. One day, as I swam just offshore, I met a large and curious turtle breaking the surface of the water. I decided then that I had to take care of the ocean: a world of life, seaweed gardens, sand, and rocks changing with the weather and tides. Now, wherever I am, that feeling of Quiet, ocean waters, and my beach are with me. I use my kinship for the ocean in my consulting and project development company, Action Plan 101. I have guided people who work for a healthy ocean, educated leaders to better environmental practices, and have created Land & Sea Festivals in Hawaii, and youth marine education projects in Seattle. I also promote the missions of ocean- focused goals of sustainable global organizations such as the California and Washington-based Quiet Parks International, Hawaii-based UN affiliate World Ocean Council, and Canadian-based shipping alliance builder Green Marine.

Nick McMahan, Director, Quiet Trails

Quiet contrasts noise. Early adult life in a touring rock band contrasted summer hikes in the Cascade Mountains with stark intensity. I found solace in quiet moments when I could feel the natural wind on my face, but also thrilled exuberance with the ear-splitting sound walls of a small smoky venue. Quiet and noise are two sides of the coin of sound I have taken time to know through exploration and experience.

Layonne Maspero, Social Media Manager

Quietness. A simple word, yet it is the key to our existence and our way forward on Mother Earth. Our world today is filled with noise, whether internal or external, we are caught up in a whirlwind of it and yet somehow we seem to believe that adding more noise will fix it. Both our inner and outer nature crave nothing more than quietness, they reflect one another, and in essence, they are in harmony. Once we can find quiet within, the world around us will change to one of peace, healing, and love.

Lance O., Executive Director of Accessibility

A descendant of grandparents who spoke American Sign Language and, hard of hearing myself, silence and quietude mean something different for me. I listen with my eyes and feel the chorus of wilderness as it reverberates through my body. Today, of the over 200,000 miles of trails the American wilderness offers, only 1% are wheelchair accessible. Beyond mobility issues, very little information is available about those who seek out, but, may not be able to access wilderness and quietude. Leveraging my background in education, accessible design and media strategy, I support the need for quiet by working to ensure that Quiet Parks informational resources, site planning, media and day-to-day operations are considerate of the variety of ways that people access and use those resources. The diversity of approaches people take as they seek out, access and enjoy quiet places.

Arline L. Bronzaft, Doctor of Philosophy, Board Member of GrowNYC

I do research and write on the adverse effects of noise on mental and physical health as well as promote the importance of quiet in our lives. Knowing that noise can damage hearing, bring about cardiovascular disorders, impede learning in children, and diminish one’s quality of life has resulted in my advocating for a lowering of the din in our lives as well as preserving and protecting our quiet areas, e.g. parks. My children’s book “Listen to the Raindrops” (illustrated by Steven Parton) teaches the children about the beauty of the good sounds around us and the dangers of the noisy sounds. I am also Professor Emerita of the City University of New York and have taught Psychology at Lehman College.

Kenya Williams, Advisor - Acoustic Ecology and Sensory Urbanism

I am the Founder and Principal of Hush Soundscape Planning and Design in Portland, Oregon, the first urban planning and design firm to specialize in soundscape planning and design. I have researched and pioneered the integration of acoustic ecology and sensory urbanism with urban planning and urban design. My research interests include examining the role of the soundscape in understanding, managing, planning, and designing cities and public spaces. I embrace the sonic experience of place to adore the treasured and beloved quiet that is engrossed in the urban ambience.

Ursula Jernberg, Photographer

Nine years ago, I traveled with my camera to Norway. During a hiking tour with a Norwegian friend, I became acutely aware of outside space and nature. After a long walk, we arrived at a place alongside a country lake. It was at this place that I experienced true silence for the first time. There were no sounds to be heard. No people, no birds, no insects, no wind and no aircraft. It was the purest experience I ever had, a moment of complete calm. Since then, I’ve been fascinated by silence. It struck me how calm and peaceful I felt to be engulfed in total silence. It brought me closer to myself, closer to my intuition. I regard it as my personal calling to photograph quiet and undisturbed areas of the world. I would like to make my audience more conscious of the environment. (Read Full Bio)

Allison Barrett, Field Project Developer

I’m a documentary filmmaker and multimedia storyteller with a background in ethnomusicology and a long-held fascination with recording sound. Recording wilderness and quiet places has taught me to truly listen. Being immersed in quiet and listening carefully to the world brings me closer to a sense of our deep coevolutionary history as a species with all other life on this planet.

Erik Roelofsen, Environmental Noise Expert

In order to preserve quiet and silent areas, I am committed to making them known to residents of the Netherlands and convincing governments to preserve these areas. I do this by indicating the importance of these areas to human health. In the Netherlands there are more than a hundred quiet areas, beautiful pieces of nature in our busy and densely populated country. Places where it is still relatively quiet. Many people need quiet nature where mainly natural sounds are heard. Staying in quiet areas is relaxing. Various scientific studies have shown the positive effects on physical and psychological health. It is important that these quiet areas are preserved and cherished. Quiet is important for our quality of life and important for nature.

Dirk Sturtewagen, Advisor, Cultural Engineer

Outer silence is a doorway to inner stillness. This is one of the great discoveries of my childhood. It’s impossible to hear and listen attentively to outer sounds when there is no inner silence. By recognizing tranquil areas and inviting people to listen to the outer quiet they can come to the source of silence within themselves. This pedagogy of silence underlies all activities of Waerbeke, a socio-cultural non-profit organization in Flanders (Dutch-speaking part of Belgium, with Brussels as its capital) of which I am the director and co-founder. Waerbeke takes its name from the little brook which springs in the heart of the Dender-Marke Quiet Park. Waerbeke’s approach to silence starts from a broad holistic view on man and society. Silence can be measured acoustically, but it is first and foremost a cultural asset.

Margaret Pihl, Community Liaison

I have a lifelong interest in audio recordings of nature, people and international places. I live within a half day's drive of the Hoh Rainforest, which I consider to be a sanctuary, the heartbeat of Washington's greatest old-growth forest. I am committed to preserving the natural soundscape in the Olympic National Park.

Charlotte Bartruff, Associate - Partnerships

In undisturbed natural soundscapes we can still connect fully with the timeless wisdom of nature. I believe that the hustle and bustle of the modern world overlays a true quietude that is always present underneath, and I am passionate about uncovering and preserving that quiet so that it is available to all people, animals, and plants for generations to come. I am a music teacher and a bird lover.

Mia Kennel, Environmental Anthropology Advisor

I have a master of science degree from the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies Environmental Conservation program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology with a certification in Ethnographic Research (qualitative research methods). I'm also a certified Land Ethic Leader through The Aldo Leopold Foundation and an Ecological Restoration Leader for restoration projects. When I was young, I disliked being indoors, confined to a chair, forced to stay still. More often than not, you would find me sitting in the middle of a prairie or on a riverbank- anywhere away from the hum of machines, the ringing of school bells, and the roar of traffic. It was freeing to be outside to sit and observe nature and listen to the silence. What I knew intuitively as a child, I later came to understand from a cultural anthropology and environmentalist lens - that quiet spaces are an essential element in a healthy ecosystem and the overall well-being of every living creature on this planet. I'm excited to apply my background and experience in ethnography, conservation planning, land use policy, and strategic communications for Quiet Parks International.

Zohara Rafi, Bioacoustics

I’ve always loved silence since childhood. For me, silence was the absence of din. But as a conservationist who loves bioacoustics, a silent forest makes me concerned. I am fascinated by how silence can have different meanings in different contexts. My research involves the use of acoustics to monitor animals and estimate population sizes. Bioacoustics is a non-invasive technique to sample biodiversity and that’s why I have dedicated my career to apply bioacoustics for wildlife conservation.

Voicu Pop, Technology

Once you experience the Quiet of a tropical rainforest bursting with life and melody, you realize how much we have sacrificed to arrive at our concrete jungle lives. It is with this in mind that protecting the limited Quiet we still have and expanding it is a matter of great importance to all of us if we are to remain connected to the natural world.

Anthony Lorubbio, Quiet Travel

Anthony is a certified transformational travel designer and mindfulness coach. His winding path through the stresses of life -- as a two-time founder and three-time CEO -- finally gave way to his launch of Recal, a company that specializes in Mindfulness and Adventure Travel. Anthony and his team of coaches and guides combine quiet, nature immersion, and various forms of mindfulness to help trip attendees 'recalibrate' their mind and body in the outdoors. He has a passion for guiding people on a journey that harnesses the power of natural quiet to find the peace and quiet within themselves. (Read Full Bio)

Tatum Larson, Grants Writer

It is from my experience that most answers can be found from nature. That by sitting in the quiet and observing the natural world, the mind settles and finds its rhythm. It has become apparent that we are living in a time where the importance of our connection with nature is no longer widespread knowledge, that we now exist in a world surrounded by overstimulation and often lack of real connection to each other and the earth. We must find a way to come back to ourselves, to be comfortable to sit in the quiet and to know that peace can be found there. My degree in Medical Anthropology and Global Health has taught me how the environment impacts health outcomes, and I believe that the work QPI is doing to save quiet places is integral in reacquainting our communities with nature, and by extension, aiding in the improvement of collective health. 

Dan Parle, Grants Writer

I have worked in a variety of roles, but most of my professional life has involved journalism, writing, editing and human communication. My personal passion has always been to visit wilderness places to enjoy and experience them which has led to extensive travel in my home country of Canada and around the world. In my lifetime, I have been increasingly disturbed by the growing industrial and personal noise that is affecting every corner of our planet, including some of our most beautiful and tranquil places. We humans need to address the growing noise pollution we are inflicting on all life though activism and gentle education that will lead to significant behavioural change. I believe that QPI can and will contribute to this important cultural change and I am pleased to volunteer and support the organization.

Federico Borman - South America

Growing up in the Amazon rain forest has made me appreciate the importance of nature’s own sounds. Without natures sounds it’s difficult for me to truly rest and restore my energy. I believe other people can also benefit greatly by experiencing nature’s sounds.

Jonathan Kawchuk - Canada

I am a composer and sound artist specializing in ecologically focused work that is recorded in/interacts with natural spaces. In my experience recording in the field, I’ve found quiet to be a necessary and increasingly scarce resource. I believe that quiet can help us discover a new way to appreciate and protect these beautiful places. (Read Full Bio)

Benjamin Calais - Colombia

I run an avant-garde music venue. I am also an experimental music improviser, record producer and mixing engineer. I feel Quiet is the mother of all music. It needs to be revered and contemplated. Quiet must remain pure. For it is the sacred source from which all expressions of our lives emerges.

Simon Voigt - Denmark

When I was stranded on Fanø, an island in the Danish Wadden Sea, I suddenly found myself home in a community nestled in the stark beauty of wind, light and sand. Quiet takes here all kinds of shapes, from bristling needles to roaring gales. And between those extremes I make my living as a musician and project leader, supporting communities and raising awareness for sensuousness and the natural environment through my platform Ørenlyd.

Hendrik Walcher - Austria

As wildlife sound recordist and aspiring landscape planner, I am involved with diverse relations of sound and place. For me, being in a quiet place is contagious. It connects me towards more subtle layers of the outer and the inner world – that which often gets drowned out. Embracing the quiet means becoming still and listen. Taking in the sounds of the non-human world, I become more conscious of my own sound making and how it affects our shared environment. It keeps reminding me of our entanglement within the mesh of life. And through listening, that mesh makes its presence felt within me.

Richard Bentley - UK

Spending time in quiet has numerous benefits for our health and wellbeing. Critically today, quiet spaces afford us an opportunity to ‘unplug’ from the distractions of the ‘attention economy’, giving us the distance to reflect, notice, focus or simply let our minds wander. In disconnecting from distraction, we can connect with ourselves, the environment and each other. Through arts work, teaching and research I explore practical ways of connecting people with quiet and am pleased to be supporting Quiet Parks International’s awards, education and research programmes here in the UK. (Read Full Bio)

Alok Kotian - India

As a sound recordist and designer working in the bustling city of Mumbai I have always been drawn towards calm natural sounds. Pursuing these soundscapes bereft of human intrusion while travelling the country has taught me how fragile and tenuous our ecosystems can truly be, while the experiences on set have made me realise how much of a fight it is to find true silence. Helping preserve quiet in its natural essence is crucial to our personal and community well being.

Edward Alant - Africa

I would describe myself as a travel and outdoor enthusiast. My childhood in South Africa was filled with evenings around the campfire, road trips to explore new places and endless days on the beach. I believe this instilled in me a wonder and appreciation for the natural world. Africa has some of the most remote and uniquely wild areas in the world, which are ideal for experiencing nature without interruption. I believe Quiet is under-appreciated and forms an essential part of our lives. Creating awareness of Quiet and the associated benefits will allow us to preserve nature for generations to come. (Read Full Bio)

Guillaume Voisin - France

I am an experimental and theater music composer and also a sound engineer. I have always been a great lover of nature and biodiversity and Field Recording is the most obvious way for me to combine these two passions. I am extremely happy to serve a great cause by representing France for Quiet Parks International. To seek the calm of nature is above all to seek calm within ourselves and it is the path that leads to peace. (Read Full Bio)

Jakub Orzęcki, Wrocław, Poland

I am an acoustic ecologist and field recording artist living in the City of Wrocław. My mission is to point out the increasing noise pollution in acoustic sensitive areas and to archive changes in sonic environments. Over the past decade I have been exploring the quietest and the most remote wilderness and underground locations in Poland trying to capture their primal sound ambiences. I care just as much about the acoustic heritage of Polish folklore and traditions, which are fading into oblivion as globalization progresses. I've established the Polish Soundscapes initiative, within which I record and analyze the relationship between biophony, geophony and anthropophony of my homeland's acoustic environment. Staying in partnership with the ORION Organizacja Społeczna I am part of field recording projects concerning sound tourism, noise awareness and ecoacoustic education.

Colin Hunter - France

In 2008 I began recording and archiving soundscapes of places that I visit around the world. My goal was to share these recordings of natural and cultural audio soundscapes in the public domain. It was immediately apparent to me that the biggest challenge a sound recordist faces is human noise pollution and the more I travelled to places far and wide, the more I realise just how difficult it is to find quiet environments. I am also a father of two young children which has given me more motivation to help raise awareness of the importance of preserving quiet for future generations. (Read Full Bio)

Emily Hesler - USA

From a young age, my parents instilled in me a true love and appreciation for the outdoors. Instead of the typical family trips to Disney World, we embarked on month long adventures to National Parks and preserves all across the United States. We explored deserts, great mountains, caves, and oceans. Even though I did not realize it at the time, we were fortunate to experience the tranquil, calming quiet in those remote places. As a sound recordist and spatial audio designer, I hope to capture, preserve, and protect the sounds of the natural environment so that others may also find solace in these places of true quiet. (Read Full Bio)

Orlando Mason - Australia

I record natural ambience and play music to it. Sometimes I take my keyboard and laptop into nature to write music inspired by my surroundings. I believe natural sound and music are beneficial to mental health. Quietness stills my mind and helps me think about complex things. As a practicing Quaker, I find direction and clarity in silence. Sharing calmness and connectedness brings me joy.

Karthic SS - New Zealand

I'm a Wildlife & Conservation Filmmaker, Photographer and Sound Recordist, telling stories using three mediums. I was introduced to the fascinating world of acoustic ecology & soundscapes during my Post Grad in Science communication. Ever since I have been inspired to record nature sounds and explore the stories that come along. With my work I aim to protect the fast disappearing Quiet Places of our planet and educate the future generations to appreciate Quiet. I’m from the warm tropics of Southern India and I'm currently based in Dunedin, New Zealand - the land of unique birds and birdsong. (Read Full Bio)

Perri Lynch Howard - USA

My work is a charting or mapping of sites and situations through painting, drawing, sculpture and sound. I have always worked with this orientation — the search for my own felt sense of place, and that of others. As an independent artist based in Twisp, Washington, the North Cascades and Methow River Watershed are wonderful aspects of the place I call "home.” Quiet time in nature is an essential aspect of my creative process. By listening to the texture and timbre of a place, we enter into a reciprocal relationship with our surroundings. This holds the potential for mutual understanding and trust. Listening to a place is the first step toward understanding it and learning how to care for it better. In the words of author, Rebecca Solnit, "Places, like people, hide as much as they reveal." What excites me about Quiet Parks International, is the opportunity to be in the company of all living things, quietly, together. This creates space for unique, yet shared emotional responses.

Owen Lord - UK

I am a sound recordist and designer who likes discovering quiet places and recording the natural soundscapes I find. For me quiet spaces are a great way to get away from distraction and act as a way to create space to reflect and reconnect with nature. I'm curious about sound and its effects on our health as well as how the sound we create impacts the natural world around us. I'm happy to help protect the quiet places we have and raise awareness of their importance.

Yusuke Takayasu - Japan

I'm enthusiastic about preserving the natural environment and like to experience nature in its original form. I love to discover and collect beautiful things. And I love to discover beautiful places to record nature sounds in the hope that someday you visit those places and experience the beauty too. (Read Full Bio)

George Tapp - UK

The quiet parts of life, both inner and outer, seem increasingly harder to hold on to. I, like many people, have found the still moments in life the most profound and impactful. I love to discover areas where nature's voice is flourishing, where humans haven’t ignored Earth's narrative. It is an honour to be able to support QPI in their rich work in advocating for these areas. I thoroughly enjoy working with sound, as a musician and sound designer I am able to explore the incredible way sounds enable us to interact with the world, and join in the narrative. I also have an MSC in the environmental sciences and work with local communities within my surrounding area to support healthy, meaningful interactions with parks and greenspaces.

Michael DeLashmet - USA

I feel most in touch with myself when I am in naturally quiet places. Quiet is clarity, though many people have little to no access to this clarity because of how endangered quiet is. My work as a sound recordist revolves around soundscape preservation and the use of those soundscapes as ambassadors for further conservation efforts. I hope that by making natural quiet accessible we can remind ourselves of what is truly essential. (Read Full Bio)

Andrew Morris - UAE

By trade I design and tune some offensively loud sound systems in all kinds of venues, but in tandem with this I’m an acoustic engineer designing these sound systems and structures to provide the best possible experience for the people inside with minimal disturbance outside. As much as I enjoy loud music, it reinforces my appreciation for tranquility away from the drone of the city, so I often escape to the deserts, mountains and sea in the cooler months. The quietness of these places is part of what makes them so magical, not just for people but for the wildlife too. Preserving this tranquility, as well as engineering more peaceful places in the cities, is something I’m keen to raise awareness about.

Shawn Burke - USA

I recall hearing the Rolling Stone’s “Satisfaction” when I was five years old.  The lyrics were irrelevant – it was the sound of Keith Richards’ guitar that blew me away: sublime distortion and resonance.  From that moment on, music and sound became an identity and a path.  This focus led me to pursue two degrees in theoretical acoustics and undertake research in noise control and measurement. Music and sound provide me with creative and philosophical outlets.  As a complement to my engineering day job, I’m an ambient sound recordist and electronic music producer.  The interplay between career and avocation lets me appreciate not only how things sound, but why they sound that way.  As a meditation practitioner and instructor, I’ve embraced sound and silence as means to decontextualize experience; to directly immerse myself in the environment.  This immersion reveals the constant squeeze we experience in our everyday acoustic world.  By spending time in quiet spaces, I’ve found a quantum of “enoughness”: a deep sense of peace that is difficult to find anywhere else. (Read Full Bio)

Uriel Montoya - France

I am an independent musician and acoustic engineer specializing in soundscapes through my PhD degree starting in 2021. I have always been passionate by the marvelous universe of sound, that led me to pursue a career in acoustics more specifically in environmental acoustics. During a session of binaural recordings back in Colombia, I noticed how little we care about Quiet and the importance of it. Sometimes the craziness of the world surrounding us doesn’t let us appreciate all the wonderful stories that sound can tell us about a place. I seek to unveil the hidden secret of nature underneath all the noise.

Simon Siah - Singapore

Singapore has done well as a land scarce city-state, balancing the needs of urbanisation and nature conservation. However, with a high population density of 8358 per square metre, urban noise is inevitable and unavoidable. My profession as an Innovation Consultant requires me to work in highly dynamic environment solving real world wicked problems. It is important for me to maintain a clear headspace by being sensitive to the environment around me, allows me to be receptive to more than one perspective to problem solving with an open mind. As a mindfulness practitioner, I am constantly seeking opportunities to immerse myself in environments to help me quiet the mind and gain greater clarity for better decision making. I am keen in helping others discover and enjoy the benefits of “quiet” and translate the ambience silence to personal inner peace.

Paul Mitchell - Jamaica

I am a Graduate of the University of the West Indies and a student of both Science and Philosophy. In my early career I was an Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) and later gradually moved into Leadership training and research where I received University Leadership Award for Outstanding Leadership in 2012. In subsequent years I ventured into social development where I held several positions with the I’m Glad I’m A Girl Foundation, a non-governmental charity organisation dedicated to the development of the girl child 13-17yrs old. I am also an Entrepreneur who does Environmental Consultation, Graphic Designing and Data Analysis. As a hobby, I write under the pseudonym of Vincent C. McDonald for my blog titled The Social Philosopher. My ethos is that the role of the artist in our modern society is to take specialised knowledge into the public domain. Paul can be followed on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

David Papa - USA

As an audio engineer/sound designer for TV and film, my job often consists of making sounds louder. It's no surprise that I seek out the solitude of the inherent Quiet in nature to rebalance. A hike in any of the many protected Wilderness Areas of the Adirondack Park, NY has served as an essential medicine in my life, and I feel it’s imperative to draw attention to, and protect, these healing spaces by capturing the enveloping Quiet within.

Dimitris Tsironis - Greece

I always explored the places and the sounds near me. I started using field recordings for my musical creations 20 years ago and never stopped. Νo matter how many times I get lost in the mountains of Greece, I am always surprised by their quietness and sounds of nature, which I use for my music compositions. I craft experimental music as melophobia and I also run the music labels 1tracktape & Default Standard Records. I am also a vinyl collector and DJ, and I love making mixtapes as Bank_of_Vinyl. I often wander on Mount Olympus in Greece, between unknown small paths, myths and the silence of nature.

Kathryn Harris - USA

Imagine you are walking on a trail through a coniferous forest. With every step you hear the crunching of pine needles beneath your feet. You hear the song of a chickadee and the call of a red-tail. There is a gentle buzz of insects and the slow and steady flow of a stream. The soundtrack to this hike is only detectable with the quiet that comes from a lack of human-generated noise. As a sound recording engineer I am interested in documenting the sounds of nature and creating quiet, peaceful soundscapes for relaxation.

Stefan Backas - Finland

Mother Nature's pure, natural quiet represents for me every individual's true essence. Natural soundscapes and the quiet behind, can be used as a portal into a pure state of being that our minds could never be able to explain. I believe that the constant chatter of the mind, the noise in our heads, is reflected out into our surroundings as noise pollution and a general atmosphere of uncertainty and hostility. When we find our quiet within we will find the quiet without. But saving the natural quiet of the world is essential for creating a supportive and rich environment in which we can find the quiet within at the same time as we allow our friends of the natural world to enjoy their right to an environment free of noise pollution. My name is Stefan and I'm a sound designer, -engineer, field recordist, and sound therapist from Finland. I use sounds, both natural sounds from Mother Nature and sacred sounds from sound healing instruments, to rebalance and restore our own frequency into alignment with ourselves and our surroundings. Through my work, I wish to raise awareness about the soundscapes that we create and surround ourselves in every day as well as our inner soundscapes, our vibrational states of being.

Nicholas Allan - UK

“Beauty is vanishing from our world because we live as though it did not matter” - Roger Scruton

My conscious appreciation of quiet grew out of my work as a nature sound recordist, where I would spend long periods immersed in the natural environment, listening deeply to the layers of sound. I came to realise that, within a forest, the soundscape is not only a large part of the surrounding beauty that moves us, but also that it plays a major role in the sensory experience that improves our sense of mental wellbeing. I also found, however, that places where we can experience the natural soundscape unaffected by the anthropogenic noise which permeates through much of our world are increasingly rare: a great loss of our natural heritage, and at a vast cost to non-human life. I joined QPI to help work towards a quieter world where, when conserving or enjoying the natural world we are aware not just of the visual aspect but the importance of its soundscape too; where all people have access to quiet places, and where sonic beauty persists.

Vicki Hallett - Australia

I am an acoustic ecologist, sound artist, composer, musician, educator and music practitioner. I seek spaces with limited anthropogenic sounds including infrasound interactions. I record sounds and create works which open the senses to rarely heard sounds existing within the environment and explore the space between hearing music and sound as a cultural experience and the aural vibration, not only within the being but beyond. My ongoing quest for sonic immersion and creative compositional devices with authenticity and inspiration finds me delving into an organic landscape of sound. How do our sounds impact our own beings and how do they impact ecosystems? How does another being perceive but a human may not? Can we attempt to hear the world as it is experienced by a particular organism? How do different animals in the same ecosystem tune into different environmental signals and how are these signals fundamental to their communication and signification? How can we hear beyond the limits of our hearing? I love to listen to the shifting harmonies of subterranean, aquatic and atmospheric sounds which reveal a wondrous world existing beyond our limited senses. (Read more)

Alan Scully - Ireland

I am an Irish based production sound mixer chiefly working in TV and Film. I have won awards from the Irish Film and Television Academy for my work. Early in my career I worked in recording studios in Dublin recording bands. My love of sound and the lack of human-made sounds was driven home to me during the lockdown, and how the world is rarely truly silent anymore. With QPI I hope to record and preserve some of the natural sounds of Ireland. (Read more)

Tom Kelly, Los Angeles, USA

Los Angeles-based field recordist, composer, and long-distance hiker. Originally from the Midwest, I earned a Bachelor of Music in Composition from Columbia College Chicago in 2018, focusing on electronic music, synthesis, and field recording. Inspired by Bernie Krause's "The Great Animal Orchestra," I delved into Acoustic Ecology. Since 2019, I've hiked long trails in the US, integrating field recording into my treks. In 2023, I completed a continuous footpath from Mexico to Canada via the Pacific Crest Trail, capturing field recordings throughout. Currently cataloging and assessing the viability of these recordings, my work aims to unite art and physical practice for personal fulfilment, the benefit of future generations, and environmental harmony.

Oliver Torr - Czech Republic

I am a sound designer and music producer based in Prague, Czech Republic. I have a melancholic relationship to quiet because I have had tinnitus in both ears for as long as I can remember. Pure silence creates anxiety but certain quiet environments in the natural world create a sense of stability and meditation. For example, the sound of a creek in a forest, which blocks out my tinnitus. I am a part of a few collectives, including Noise.Kitchen, which is a community space revolving around electronic music. (Read more)

Akihiro Hara - Japan

I am just an ordinary guy residing in Tokyo, Japan. My academic background is in Psychology, and am very interested in learning about “happiness” and positive psychology. By learning ‘The Science of Happiness’ at UC Berkeley, I came to realize the positive effects nature can have on us. To know that humans are just a part of Earth and not the dominant creatures on Mother Nature will help us live in accordance with all the creatures and nature. I have lived in the U.S. and New Zealand, and have traveled all over the world. I believe that we are smart enough to learn from history, and can make better choices to live harmoniously with nature. By being a member of QPI, I believe that I can contribute to let people know how precious and lucky we are, even in Tokyo, being in those environments! 

Mark Hooper - Australia

I am a sound designer, researcher, field recordist and digital artist. With a background in sound for screen projects, multi-sensory performances, field recording work, and music composition. Growing up in rural Victoria on Gunaikurnai land, I spent most of my life living in the quiet and peaceful Native Australian Forests, with a backyard of bustling bushland to explore. Later on in life, I lived and worked in the city of Melbourne, before moving to the heart of the industrial coal mining area of the Latrobe Valley - where I would experience waking up at night to the constant hum and whir of power stations in the air. Whilst also working as a contractor within the noisy and piercing confines of Hazelwood Power Station. This vast range of sonic experiences brought me to a strong understanding of the importance and relaxing nature of quiet soundscapes, and the strong relationship between sound and psychophysiological functioning. I am currently working as a freelance sound designer and field recordist. I also work as a casual research assistant at RMIT University, which involves undertaking research in the therapeutic effects of tactile vibrations, sound and music.

Nahun Saldaña - Peru

I am a sound artist and speculative designer. My work as a sound artist is focused on revealing the vulnerability of the human being in nature, understanding its impact from sound as a place of resistance from the political, biological and social sphere. I am currently discovering the intersections between voice, soundscape and sound ecology with climate change and in sound futures speculation. I made several expositions for people reflexion people about importance of understanding our sounds and ecology. (Read More)

David Sadoway - Canada

I am a scholar, trained as an urban/community planner, and a resource and environmental manager. While cities and urbanism fascinate me, so do their wider environs and bioregions, including their soundscapes. I have had the good fortune to live in and experience the incredibly diverse soundscapes of Asia for 15+ years (Ulaanbaatar, Taipei, Hong Kong, Singapore, Delhi, Bengaluru); and have lived in 5 Canadian provinces. Previous collaborative studies on public perceptions of noise, seeded my current interest in the linkages between quality of urban soundscapes, quality of life and environmental liveability. A greater awareness of sonic liveability and environmental (in)justices in our midst can, I believe, improve community liveability. In our growing city-regions the provisioning of access to quiet places for all with low air and light pollution are not only crucial for biodiversity protection, but also for our socio-psychological health. At the moment I live, teach, learn and do research as a human geographer / policy studies scholar in Metro Vancouver, at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, on the unceded territories of the allied Coast Salish Peoples.

Daniel Kinka - USA

When I was a child, and later as a musician, I developed a love of music. Raised by an acting and directing mother, I learned to revere the power of the spoken word and storytelling. When I worked for a time as a radio journalist, I cultivated an understanding and appreciation of sound. An avid hiker and backpacker, I nurture a fondness for natural soundscapes. As an ecologist, I recognize quiet as a fundamental component of wildness.

Jacob Schmidt - USA

Working as a Bioacoustician for the United States Forest Service, my job is to detect and study wildlife species within varied noise level environments in the US. This has me existing in some of the quietest places in the country along the Pacific coast which, compared to the setting of Chicago where I obtained my undergrad in Acoustics, is much appreciated after experiencing so much noise. Whether at work or on my off time, I am usually in some remote wilderness with a recorder or two handy, ready to capture at least a copy of that sonic beauty that I am existing within.
In 2020, I was lucky enough to have Gordon Hempton serve as the mentor to my undergrad capstone project, the Backpack Impulse Response Kit (BIRK). While creating this hand sized tool to capture natural reverb, I also started (Y)ears of Change, a data sonification and animation project revolving around the causes and effects of anthropogenic climatic events. Lastly, I work for the Pacific Northwest Research Station's Bioacoustics Lab in Corvallis, Oregon where I am helping to develop Soundscaping Protocol for the federal government along with deploying Song Meter acoustic listening devices across the Central Coast of Oregon.

Lindsey Bathke - USA

I attribute finding deep joy in the stillness of the quiet, allowing for breath, to my upbringing amongst the mountains in Colorado. Having worked, touring, in the Music Industry for the past 17 years, when away from the cacophony of sound on stage or behind, I find myself so deeply yearning and reaching for quiet. A space to walk. Breathe. Listen for what nature is telling me. A place filled with grace and staggering silence; free from noise. Quiet has helped heal me from within, allowed a space for my thoughts to ease, and provided nourishment in a world that seems to spin at a ferocious pace. With my travels, I have been recording the quiet places I encounter, often pairing those sounds with the resonant guitar playing of my father; creating meditations for all to enjoy. With Quiet Parks, I look forward to sharing moments which allow for breath and healing; reminding us how truly sacred space for quiet is for the nurturing of life.

Ursula Bravo - Portugal

I am an experimental musician and sound performer, dedicated to the study of soundscapes. Currently, I collaborate as an independent researcher with the Biodiversity Group of the Azores for the development of a pedagogical guide on soundscapes for teachers to explore regional biodiversity with students. I am also working to develop an experimental sound lab to analyze soundscapes and increase our awareness of the land and other species.

Wijnand Bredewold - Netherlands

I love to make work from a strong concept, such as the origin of the universe, nature and themes related to our living environment. I also regularly make music, where I often use field recordings. Quiet nature, where can you still find that, after all, we are too often surrounded by noise pollution. Every time I go into nature, for one or more days, I feel reborn. But when I come back from the quiet areas, I experience all the more intensely what noise especially from traffic does to you. In fact, you want to turn around right away. That's why I have a strong focus on nature and quiet, for myself and for others and nature itself. Discovering nature through small expeditions, preferably on foot or by bicycle, is my way of experiencing nature.

Stephen Whitmarsh - France

As a neuroscientist, I first got interested in sound as a way to reflect on perception and signal processing. As an artist, I learned how important it is to listen. Taking the time to listen expands our awareness, and flips our habits of perception around: background becomes foreground, and noise becomes signal. When we feel disconnected, the act of listening brings us naturally back into the world. Listening also exposes how ever-present the human world has become. There is no sonic or electromagnetic wavelength that is not penetrated by our activities. Listening and recording becomes an anthropological study, in which we are never just observing from the outside. It is this navigation through noise towards the quiet spaces, that has let me to Quiet Parks International. (Read More)

Francesco Fabris - Iceland

Sound artist, musician, composer working with live electronics, sound, light and intermedia installations, AV works and recording studio productions as producer and engineer. My personal work generates from a diverse range of interests mainly associated with procedures that depict sound and visual forms out of a naturalistic context, while often filtering the outcome with machine-driven techniques. The main ideas gravitate towards field and foley recordings manipulation, acoustic ecology, sound synthesis, audio spatialization and data sonification as composition tools. I’m based in Reykjavík and constantly working on numerous collaborative projects for screen, stage, live and recorded mediums. In 2020 I founded “Outer Fields”, a container for specific field recording projects, libraries, soundmaps and plug-ins. I have performed worldwide with projects in clubs, festivals, galleries, residencies and theatres. (Read More)

Charles Sovek - USA

I’ve always enjoyed the peace and calm of a quiet space - from listening to snow fall, the ocean breathing or a calm wind from a ridgetop - it always puts things in perspective and appreciation of our surroundings. I have over 20 years of professional audio post production work and have been involved with sound recording and audio post-production since the early 1990’s. I am an award winning sound mixer and sound designer and most recently was awarded a commemorative Emmy award. I have Telly awards and also won TIVA Peer Awards for outstanding mixing and sound design. I have been an active member of these associations; Virginia Production Alliance, DC Ad Club, Women in Film and Video (WIFV) and the Television, Video, Internet association (TIVA) of DC as well as the Audio Engineering Society.

Peter Bender - Germany

A quiet spot in nature helps me to recharge my mental battery and lets me escape the energy-consuming sensory overload of life. I love stillness and meditation and practice every day. My upcoming project as a sound engineer is to combine guided meditations with nature field recordings and ambient music. I am also investigating sound installations for relaxation and wellness areas in hotels using ambisonic sound bars. As a sound engineer and a member of the ‘Association of German Tonmeister’, I follow the evolution of 3D sound productions in all areas closely, especially binaural, MPEG-H and Dolby Atmos. I have done field recordings in Bali, Ko Samui, Masai Mara Kenya and at the Dutch North sea. I’d like to explore ‘islands of quietness’ for Quiet Parks in Germany.

Samuel Kudjodzi - Germany

After an encounter with Bernie Krause and David Monacchi works on Soundscapes of primary forests during my studies under Professor Robin Minard at “SEAM”- Bauhaus University of Weimar, I have been immensely inspired by sounds of nature and particularly concerned about the effects of man-made sounds on nature spaces. I am the initiator of the project “THE ECOMUSIC PROJECT”, which seeks to interweave sounds of quiet wellness cities (Kurstädte/Kurorte) of Thuringia, Germany with composed notational music in partnership with renown composers and experimental musicians worldwide. My projects in progress are in Education in Soundscape Ecology and Multimedia in the context “Agenda 2030-SDGs” for young people of Germany and Ghana. I have keen interest in documenting sounds of German and Ghanaian National Parks for the Quiet Parks International project with immersive sound technologies.

Tony Whitehead - UK

Tony Whitehead is a sound recordist based in Dartmoor, Devon UK. He has an interest in wildlife sound recording, particularly bird song, and in exploring quiet places. He runs Very Quiet Records and co-curates the Quiet Night In series of concerts that explore quiet in contemporary music. Since 2020 he has also co-hosted Dartmoor Soundings, a site dedicated to exploring his home landscape through field recording.

Marcin Dymiter - Poland

Marcin Dymiter moves in the field of electronic music, field recording and improvised music. He creates sound installations, radio plays, film music, theater performances, exhibitions and public spaces. His interest in field recording started around 2001 recording reserves, green areas within city limits, sea coasts, rivers, sound portraits of cities, recordings from parks in European cities. He is the originator and curator – together with Marcin Barski – of the Polish Soundscapes project, the first Polish exhibition presenting the phenomenon of field recording and a co-creator of the Institute of Soundscape (Instytut Pejzażu Dźwiękowego). He is also the author of books on field recording and acoustic environment Notes from the field and for younger readers Guide for audioculturalists.

Mathieu Chiaverini - France

As a sound recordist for documentary filmings, I’ve first learned to listen to natural places through my microphones and I quickly realized that these environments have their own sound existence. The sake of professional rigor faced me with the extreme difficulty in capturing natural sounds devoid of human noise. Then travels and hikes increased my need to contemplate the beauty of nature through its sounds and therefore all my professional and personal projects seek a sort of obsessional quest for soundscapes that would be purified from any human presence - A quest for natural silences.

Jared Blake - US

I'm a professional nature field recordist seeking the quietest places on Earth. My goal is to reconnect people with nature through sound. To do so, I backpack into the most remote wilderness regions and record the pure, sonic medicine held within those lands. My sounds have been used in documentaries, mobile apps, awareness campaigns and in 2021, I was featured on an episode of the PBS show America Outdoors where I talked about how I connect with nature through field recording. I blog about my experiences and share my sounds on my website, Acoustic Nature.

David de la Haye - United Kingdom

David de la Haye is a musician, field-recordist and sound technician with a passion for exploring underwater soundscapes. A member of the award-winning technical team at Newcastle University, David has developed an eclectic collaborative portfolio which includes international tours, artist residencies, workshops, and public installation. He has produced works for British Ecological Society, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, BBC Radio Scotland, and COP26 at Glasgow Science Centre. He is based in Durham and sits on the Cultural Committee for D2025, Durham County’s bid for UK City of Culture.

Henrik Sundh - Denmark

Award-winning producer of electronic listening music, musician and teacher.I grew up in a town in the midst of a vast pine-forest in Sweden and spent most of my childhood playing among the moss and stones in the dim silence of the woods. Later on in my life I have spent large amounts of time in the beech forests in Denmark, and enjoyed the similarities and the differences in the feeling, the sounds, the light, and overall experience in these forest environments. Now living in a city, I nurture my relation to plants and nature when I have the opportunity to do so. Denmark is a country without much vast wilderness, the truly quiet places in nature are quite few, and noise pollution is very hard to get away from. All nature no matter what kind have a calming effect on my nervous system and makes it a true healing experience, which has govern my interest in the importance of nature and quiet for my own mental wellbeing as well as others. The lack of quiet in much of the world today have a negative impact on stress and anxiety levels for all beings. And also, quiet is the catalyst for my creativity. I have joined QPI because it gives me a chance to put a focus on the importance of all this, and to promote the need for more quiet place.

Daniel Campoverde, Ecuador

I work as a sound designer and producer in Ecuador, mostly involved in organizing cultural projects at universities. My focus is on activities related to sound synthesis and electroacoustic music. Nature has a special place in my heart, and I love recording soundscapes wherever I find myself. There's something incredibly calming about the quietness of natural surroundings—it brings me a lot of peace. Collaborating to share these simple recordings feels rewarding. It's a small way to help others connect with nature's wonders through the sounds I capture.

Jacob Bentz, Phoenix, USA

To me, silence is precious. I believe it is just as important to our wellbeing as physical exercise, a healthy diet, or anything else we do to take care of ourselves. Silence is almost always a forgotten and overlooked factor in this equation. Our modern world has allowed us to advance and progress as a species in spectacular ways; but the cost has been silence. There are still quiet places to be found, albeit with much more difficulty than at any other time in our species’ history. My mission is to find these places, attempt to capture their essence in the form of audio recordings, and share them with whoever will find them beneficial. My whole being is drawn to these places, as if by a magnet. They are my church, my temple; they are very much sacred - and should be treated with the respect and reverence they deserve. I go to the silence of nature to find healing, peace, calm, and clarity. I am thrilled to play even a small role in helping bring awareness to these precious, sacred quiet places.

Keenan Hye, San Diego, USA

I am an architectural acoustics and noise control engineering consultant with a lifelong critical listening background. My interest in music and audio from an early age developed within me a great appreciation for the intrinsic art and beauty of natural soundscapes. In modern society, full immersion in a quiet, natural environment is as increasingly therapeutic as it is rare. I am passionate about prioritizing and protecting quiet spaces from ever-expanding human-generated noise.

Ian Pletzer, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa

Ian has always been drawn to nature. His passions include the ocean, photography and birding - all the while creating awareness to the importance of preserving wild spaces and habitat. As a multi-faceted guide, his work incorporates taking people on the journeys he experiences in his own personal nature connection. Ian has been doing this visually with his wildlife and bird images, but since he started listening to birdsong during lockdown that he has realised that tuning into the sounds of the natural environment around you is where the most powerful connections and awareness is experienced.

Zeos Greene, Seattle, USA

I am a sound designer and artist with a passion for field recording and studying natural soundscapes. Some of my work includes designing sound for art installations, interactive media, and projects in plant bio sonification. Since high school I have been field recording in wilderness and urban areas around the Pacific Northwest and steadily collecting a library of soundscapes. My specialty is field recording hidden soundscapes which are difficult to hear, and together with QPI I hope to use these hidden sounds to raise awareness about sound ecology and noise pollution. I also capture sounds from areas in danger of habitat loss in order to preserve these soundscapes and help conservation efforts. Hopefully my work will help people understand the importance of acoustic communication in ecosystems, and plant ideas for developing a more harmonious sonic relationship between humans and the natural world. You can find more of my work here.

Owen Bowie, Montreal, Canada

I was born in Toronto, Ontario and live in Montreal, Quebec. I have a B.Com. degree from Smith School of Business at Queen's University and I’m enrolled in the Electroacoustic Studies program at Concordia University. By joining the team at Quiet Parks International, I aim to identify, test, and award urban quiet parks in Montreal. In doing so, I hope to raise awareness for the value of quiet within local communities and assist with the preservation of quiet in these parks. With my spare time, I'm learning French, exploring mobile game prototyping with Unity, audio implementation with Wwise, and experimenting with various traditional instruments to create compositions not tied to game environments.

Gregor Vida, Slovenia

I spend my free time outside… hiking, cycling, kayaking, or just being in nature. I always wanted to record nature sounds and videos. If you play back the recordings, you get transported into a different world. I also design equipments - windshields, microphone mounts, cables, etc... it is challenging, and one needs a lot of creativity and patience! The world is getting louder every day and it is very hard to find a really quiet place where only natural sounds exist. I want to help and preserve quiet and also archive sounds of nature, which are beautiful and not polluted by greed and profit.

Allyson Thomas, Winchester, USA

Allyson “Ally” Thomas is an acoustic ecologist, award-winning photographer, artist and forest wanderer. She frequently escapes on quests to find the world’s most quietest and purest places to capture and share! She is a practitioner of Shinrin Yoku and on her excursions she attempts to capture the beauty and peacefulness of nature for your healing pleasure.

Derek Gulden, Ventura, USA

As I try to put into words why silence is important to me I'm beginning to realize that words are inefficient at conveying its importance to me. Being able to listen to the wind whisper in the trees fills me with deep peace. The chorus of birds in the morning and the percussion of night insects makes me happy.  Rain and thunder are my favorite songs. True silence is the absence of manmade and mechanical sounds. I love to wander into vast wildernesses in search of beautiful landscapes and sacred silence but I have never been able to escape the artificial thunder of aircraft. I would love to one day be able to listen to the wind and rain, the birds and crickets, and the entire symphony of nature without the disturbing artificial thunder of man ruining it.

Emilio Marx, Barcelona, Spain

Acoustic Engineer, Sound Technician and Sound Artist. He focuses his artistic production on the study of acoustic and sound space, especially from its ability to generate affection through perceptive memory. Trained in acoustic engineering, he frequently uses his theoretical background to implement technology with the intention of exposing this ability, looking for an aesthetic and sound discourse that enhances these spatial translations. At the same time, he has addressed the topic of acoustic heritage with particular interest. In this line of research, his academic work "Simulated acoustic space: potentialities in artistic practice" stands out. He is currently part of the Barcelona collective Patrimoni Acustic dedicated to promoting the importance of this heritage in Catalonia. (Know more)

Brynn Yonker, Kingston Springs, USA

Growing up, nature was always where I sought solitude in the beauty and safety of silence in the nearby state park. My friends and I would ride our bikes to that park after school and let our imaginations run wild building forts and creating different worlds. I think it’s increasingly difficult for children to experience that kind of childhood today with all the noise fighting for their attention. Quiet matters in such a fundamental way in every stage of life, but it’s so easy to overlook. Sound holds so much power, and I want to capture that power and energy for others to experience. I’m an audio engineer with experience in film, tv, audiobooks, and field recording. When the whole world stopped during the pandemic I started a YouTube Channel (Sound Scout) to share my recordings of nature and get in touch with a world that was finally quiet. I enjoy traveling and recording soundscapes on my adventures in the hope that others will discover nature and quiet are worth protecting.

Lauren Kuehne, Seattle, USA

I'm an environmental scientist that does research in Washington State, where you can kayak big rivers, hike high mountains, and see unique coastal sea stacks in the same weekend if you want. My adopted home state has endless areas of unique wilderness to explore. One of the things I always remember about my favorite wilderness places, though, is the quiet. The natural sounds of the world are as much as part of experiencing wilderness - its immensity and possibilities - as the trees and mountains and waves. I've been fortunate enough to have these experiences, in my work and recreating, and much of my research reflects my quest to capture and quantify that experience, and the importance of natural sounds for people as well as the wildlife that live in these areas. (Know more)

Richard Alan Hannon, Ohio, USA

Field recordist Richard Alan Hannon is an award-winning photojournalist with over 20 years of experience covering people from all walks of life. He transitioned into sound recording when "multimedia" took off. Focusing on visuals all those years, he soon realized he had been missing out on half the story. His work aims to remedy that by making connections and telling stories on an intimate level that only sound can deliver. (Know more)

Mat Eric Hart, Aix-en-Provence, France

Mat Eric Hart (London, 1988) is a British artist, producer, sound engineer & field recordist currently based in Provence, France. His work explores field recording, acoustic ecology, soundscape composition and sound design through a practice deeply rooted in listening to and connecting with the natural world. He has travelled the world in search of sounds that embody and reflect the true spirit of the people, spaces and environments he encounters. His works examine the relationships that exist between these demographics using sound recording as a medium for channeling nature, rituals, folk culture and sacred spaces into hyper-realistic, meditative compositions. (Know More)

Chris Pulley, Utah, USA

I am an audio engineer, sound designer, and sound artist. I currently split my time between northern and southern Utah with my wife and dogs. My interest in the outdoors and sound are often features of my work. I’m interested in exploring the increasingly scarce natural soundscape absent of human intervention.

Patrick Benson, California, USA

I am a musician, sound designer, technician, and freelance-writer with a passion for field recording, composing music, adventure, and the great outdoors. I have worked heavily in the touring music world for the last fifteen years with headlining acts such as Nine Inch Nails, Beck, and The Strokes. It is no surprise that I have been in search of quiet places for a long time now. I am currently traveling the globe in a camper van full time as a means to reconnect with the outside world, to spark creativity, and to form a better peace of mind. I record, perform, and compose original music under the name “Olyn”. I also host a podcast about guitars, music, and the equipment involved in the creative process called “Crossed Wires”. You can subscribe to the podcast and find my music on all platforms.

Boyi Bai, Sheffield, UK

I am a composer of electroacoustic music and a soundscapes researcher from China. Currently, I am pursuing a Ph.D. in Music at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom. My main research focus is on documenting and preserving the soundscapes of China and using Chinese soundscapes as a source of inspiration for music composition. The goal of my research is to raise awareness among the Chinese people about soundscapes and environmental conservation and to integrate the concept of soundscapes more deeply into people's lives. I have a passion for exploring intriguing soundscapes, such as forests, wilderness areas, urban noises, and more. I am dedicated to creating sound maps for places I love, allowing people to experience and understand this fascinating world through their ears.

Diego Ezpeleta, Costa Rica

I am a sound engineer, music producer and composer. Whether working in collaboration with musicians and filmmakers or in my own music, I try to be intentional about the sounds I am putting out into the world, striving to connect people with the rich and emotional experience of listening. In my process, I have always found guidance and inspiration in nature and the many voices in which Earth speaks. I find it essential to have spaces where we can still listen to ourselves and the larger soundscapes we are a part of, so that we can create from a place of deep connection. With time I’ve come to understand that sound and music appreciation cannot exist without the appreciation of silence and deep listening. I want to protect and nurture places that offer the quiet and stillness to both listen carefully to the world and also find our own creative voice in it. (Read More)

Alaska Quiet Rights Coalition, Alaska

The Alaska Quiet Rights Coalition is a 501c3 nonprofit organization with a mission to maintain and restore natural sounds and natural quiet on public lands and waters in Alaska through advocacy and education for the benefit of people and wildlife. Since 1996, the AQRC has promoted its mission through a working board, primarily via letters and calls to federal, state and local agencies during public planning processes, but also through administrative appeals, litigation, and an educational workshop. The AQRC has been supported by voluntary donations, primarily from individuals, over the years. However, our board has recently agreed to pursue a proactive approach for quietness advocacy in Alaska and, as such, find common ground with Quiet Parks International. (Read More)

Brian Garbowicz, Minneapolis, USA

I am an autodidactic artist and engineer with a passion for blending abstract and formulaic elements to create experimental art. My interests span audio engineering, music composition, painting, cloud engineering, tinkering, and building. I often work with fretted string instruments, keys, and percussion, incorporating field recordings to enrich my compositions. My love for quiet spaces and nature drives me to preserve wilderness experiences for future generations. I maintain a website and release music under various pseudonyms. Currently, I am experimenting with a field recording device prototype that combines a Raspberry Pi, a USB mic, and a battery pack, aiming to simplify the process for aspiring field recorders. My two cats inspire much of my daily reflection with their audible breathing patterns. (Read More)

Martha Mutiso, Nairobi, Kenya

I'm a Kenyan tour guide and conservation storyteller. I specialize in photography, filming, writing, and recently, nature sound recording. Growing up, I cherished the sounds of nature, especially birds, bats, frogs, and crickets. However, these sounds are increasingly rare in urban areas. To preserve these sounds and seek out quiet places, I've embarked on a journey to learn sound recording in East Africa. As a guide, I have access to serene locations where I refine my skills in photography, filmmaking, and nature sound recording. I'm fortunate to learn from mentors worldwide and collaborate with local scientists and guides to identify wildlife species. My passion for bioacoustics drives me to use sound recordings as a tool for conservation, highlighting the plight of fragile species and ecosystems. Each sound I capture tells a story, urging us to protect the natural world that sustains us. (Read More)