Liona Boyd

“I am thrilled to serve as an ACEER Rainforest Ambassador and support ACEER’s work to create the next generation of conservation leaders. My connection to the rainforest began in the 80’s when I traveled to Costa Rica and was in awe of its lush, tropical beauty. In 2002 I took a cruise from Manaus along the magnificent Rio Negro in the Amazon… a lifelong dream. In 2013 I was motivated to compose “A Prayer for Planet Earth” after seeing heartbreaking images of Amazonian destruction and the melting of the polar icecaps. From climate change to environmental justice, the time is now for all of us to add our voices to ACEER’s mission. I’m glad to add mine.  After receiving an honorary doctorate, I stated in my address to the students, “…if we want to accomplish something extraordinary…we must follow our passion and focus on our dreams, letting nothing or nobody dissuade us. We must forge new paths and not simply follow in well-trodden ones.” This is what ACEER does in its passion and commitment to rainforest conservation. Please join me in supporting ACEER’s work in the Amazon.”

Biography

Five time Juno award winner, Liona Boyd, ”The First Lady of the Guitar”, has enthralled millions with her romantic and unique brand of classical, folk and world music. She has performed solo and orchestral concerts around the world, had her own television specials, and recorded twenty-nine records, many of which have gone Gold and Platinum. Liona has over 50 million streams. Her latest album is  the Latin flavoured “L.O.V.E.”, released along with several videos for the project. Liona’s holiday special “A Winter Fantasy” has aired on PBS stations throughout the US for the past five years. 

Liona has played for dozens of world leaders including the British Royal Family and the US president. She has recorded with Sir Andrew Davis and the English Chamber Orchestra, Yo Yo Ma and Georges Zamfir, and breaking with classical tradition has toured with Gordon Lightfoot and Tracy Chapman as well as recorded with Chet Atkins, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour and Olivia Newton-John. Liona has been a special guest on dozens of American television shows including The Tonight Show, Today Show, Boston Pops and Entertainment Tonight. With her talents and role in Canadian culture, Liona has been given five Honorary Doctorates, The Order of Ontario, the Diamond Jubilee Medal, and was recently made an Officer of the Order of Canada.  She was inducted into the Guitar Player ‘Gallery of Greats’. Liona has composed and arranged hundreds of pieces for the guitar and also written a best-selling autobiography, ‘In My Own Key… My Life in Love and Music’. Her second autobiography ‘No Remedy for Love’, was released in 2017 and her new children’s book “the Cat Who Played Guitar” was just published. 

Throughout her career Liona has been involved with many charitable organizations and is pleased to support ACEER and its mission. 

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