Jacinto Salcedo recounts the creation of Common Ground, a choral work by Laurie Evan Fraser with lyrics by Jacqui Atking; blending poetry and music to confront division, war, and injustice, ultimately offering a hopeful artistic call for empathy, belonging, and shared humanity through a tapestry of stories and voices.

What did “New Beginnings” mean for Upper Canada Chorister, after the sudden withdrawal of a major new composition? It resulted in four brand new songs created by composers of various ages, musical backgrounds, and life stories.

The catalyst for Comfort and Joy, however, was two-part – a response to the raging Covid-19 pandemic and, as importantly, the recent death of Bill Briggs, a beloved and long-time tenor in the choir.