Natalie Spears is set to unveil a freshly reimagined version of her acclaimed album, “Hymn of Wild Things,” joined by a string quintet May 16 at The Arts Campus at Willits.

At the heart of the performance, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Spears focuses on the connection between nature and music, with an emphasis on the melodies and sounds of birds. The album’s new arrangement for strings adds a fresh dimension to Spears’ debut album, released summer 2024.

The event is a unique collaboration between Spears and the Aspen Music Festival, The Birdsong Project, and the Roaring Fork Audubon. 

The album’s compositions have been creatively reimagined for the strings by composer Ilan Blanck, who also arranged Spears’ original album. Blanck’s arrangements weave what Spears described as “lush sonic textures,” blending her folk traditions with new classical depth through a layer of different sounds and instruments.

“Natalie’s music and her singing voice are so warm and textured that I feel like they fit wonderfully with the sound of a string quintet,” Blanck said. “They have been really open to trying some different things. I’ve been really grateful to be a part of it.”

The string quintet performing at the event will include Roaring Fork Valley musicians Ross Kribbs and Camille Backman playing violin, Sarah Graf on cello, Delaney Myers on viola, and Carl Mienecke on bass.

Adding another transformational element, Spears noted she integrated “candid sonic moments” from her own life, including field recordings. 

“I record sounds all the time,” Spears said, explaining her goal to explore the “sonic landscape” around us and her hope to “reframe” how listeners perceive natural sounds through the lens of music. 

Backman said the opportunity to work on creating a cohesive set with the inclusion of birdsong field recordings has been a thrilling synthesis of the natural world and stringed instruments. 

“The whole process has been expanding and fulfilling,” Backman said.

While rooted in her folk background, this project is described as a creative shift for Spears. Spears praised Blanck’s “tasteful and transformative arrangements,” adding, “This has been a really fun opportunity to collaborate.”

The distinctive fusion of musical elements is sure to strike a chord with both “bird nerds” and music fans alike.

Tickets for the event range from $30 to $45. The show is from 8-9:30 p.m. at 400 Robinson St. For more information, go to tacaw.org.