Building Community Across Borders
Common Ground Voices / La Frontera
Common Ground Voices / La Frontera brings together a diverse group of artists in community music and peace-building projects situated at the border of Mexico and the United States. Through its signature programs, weeklong residencies and two-day encuentros, Common Ground Voices / La Frontera considers forced migration, identity, place, belonging, and shared humanity in this politically charged and historically contested region.
Mission, Vision, & Values
Modeled on Common Ground Voices in Jerusalem, CGV La Frontera aims to generate meaningful collaboration through music, explore and create music of shared human values and aspirations, contribute to community music as an exercise of non-violence, and utilize music as a springboard for a meaningful discussion about social and political change within the group as well as with the society in general. We believe in transcending political and demographic borders through art-, theatre-, and music-making; in the transformative potential of immersive and experiential encounters with difference; in the power of proximity to expand perspectives and open hearts; and in the role that culture-bearers play in building community.
Emilie Amrein & André de Quadros, Artistic Directors
Dr. Emilie Amrein is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion issues within the arts and academia. As Associate Professor of Music at the University of San Diego, she conducts the USD Concert Choir and Choral Leadership Collaboratory, and teaches courses on music and social justice movements.
Dr. André de Quadros is Professor of Music and Chair of the Music Education Department at Boston University. He directs four choirs: the Manado State University Choir (Indonesia), Common Ground Voices (Israeli / Palestinian / international), VOICES 21C (Boston), and Muslim Choral Ensemble (Sri Lanka).
Encuentros
Community Music Workshops
August 28-30, 2019
Tijuana, B.C.
October 4-6, 2019
Tijuana, B.C.
February 7-9, 2020
Tijuana, B.C.
March 3-10, 2019
in San Diego & Tijuana
In March of 2019, Common Ground Voices / La Frontera gathered for a weeklong residency at the border of Mexico and the United States.
April 13-19, 2020
in San Diego & Tijuana
We are seeking applications from US-based singers to fill a few vacancies in our project roster. The Application can be found here: https://forms.gle/b2mhsbHcadiF4RW48
Thirty-three citizen artists traveled from across the continent for a weeklong residency, co-creating an intentional, international community through song. After intensive rehearsal and community engagement activities, the ensemble presented workshops and public performances of the program, “Sueños, Visiones: Another Possible World,” featuring choral works by Mexican and American composers, improvisation, movement, and narration in an immersive musical theatre experience for diverse audiences in both countries.
For this project, CGV / La Frontera was pleased to collaborate with the following community partners: American Friends Service Committee; Beyond Borders Conference; Bread & Salt; CECUT; Centro de Artes Musicales; Cenzontle Ensamble Escénico Vocal; Ecoparque; El Sistema Nacional de Fomento Musical; Ensamble Redes 2025; Espacio Migrante; Fern Street Circus; Kenton "Ken10" Hundley; University of San Diego; US Customs & Border Protection; & Via International.