The Common Opus is a genre-bending concert, a humanistic celebration and a COVID-19 farewell ceremony, inspired by the personal stories of 95 diverse Oregonians and created by award-winning composer Emily Lau. A dazzling roster of nationally-renowned singers and instrumentalists leads the audience through storytelling, songs, improvisation and movement in constantly changing soundscapes infused with immersive beauty, gripping directness and empathetic relevance.

Portlanders will see themselves in every song in The Common Opus, created right here with a bold new process that transforms our community’s experience into beautiful, moving art. We’ll grieve recent losses together, dust ourselves off and inspire hope for a better future.

This project features more than 20 award-winning musicians, theater artists, visual artists and poets; Big Mouth’s choir; and a citizen ensemble. Get ready to be moved by the artistry of Reggie Mobley, Niccolo Seligmann, Kyle Hutchins, Julie Bosworth, Jessica Schaeffer, Peter Lim, Maria Collinsworth, Les Green, Shohei Kobayashi, Bryce Caster, Michael McDonald, Jocelyn Claire Thomas, David Krueger, Lisa Neher, Lynn Mendoza-Khan, Sarah Beaty, and some of Oregon’s finest poets.

Our world premiere performance is a live and interactive experience of the commercial album to be released in 2024.

This project is supported by the Oregon Cultural Trust.

Project support is generously provided by the Ronni S. Lacroute Fund of Oregon Community Foundation and Multnomah County Cultural Coalition, with additional funding from Big Mouth Society, New Music USA, Oregon Arts Commission and Oregon Community Foundation.