Common and Kind: Worldwide Collaborative Fundraiser

People today feel deeply affected by division to an extent unknown in generations. In the UK, the recent referendum has affected friendships, families, organisations, classes and communities, and division is keenly felt in the United States as well as across the world.

On the morning of the 24th of June, we called upon people across the musical spectrum to come together to respond to division with community. The response was simply phenomenal. Hundreds of singers, from pop stars to opera soloists, community choirs, and school choirs offered to contribute, as did orchestral players, concert soloists, top jazz musicians and many more from across the world. As a result, we are producing a collaborative international concert, culminating with the filming of a video single called Human Kind,which incorporates a huge line-up of solo artists, massed choral and orchestral forces, combined with video recorded contributions from around the world.

The concert and video are in support of Musicians without Borders, Music Action International and Amnesty International, charities who tirelessly campaign to heal divisions and protect human rights in communities across the globe.

Confirmed artists at the time of going to press include some of the world's finest musicians in the pop, jazz, opera and traditional music worlds such as Cassidy Janson, star of the multiple-Olivier Award-winning smash hit show Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, international opera star and Grammy Award-nominee Sarah Connolly, guitarist Mark Lettieri of fusion music trailblazers and multiple Grammy-winners Snarky Puppy, chart-topping UK singer Sarah Jane Morris, Bengali folk star Saida Tani and acclaimed folk guitarist and singerEwan McLennan with guest speaker author and Guardian journalist George Monbiot. The evening will be conducted by one of the UK's leading conductors James Burton and the orchestra will be led by Thomas Gould (Aurora Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia), with more artists being confirmed daily. In addition, Grammy Award-winning international megastar soprano Joyce DiDonato is an honorary patron of this event.

The concert and the filming of the song will take place on Tuesday the 2nd of August in the stunning, award- winning venue Union Chapel, after which the video will be completed with contributions from across the world. The song, written by Michael Solomon Williams, is non-partisan, the very essence being to celebrate our human ability to create, collaborate and communicate.

TICKETS NOW ON SALE

Union Chapel, Compton Terrace, Islington, London, N1 2UN.

The venue is less than 5 mins walk from Highbury and Islington Underground and Overground Station

Official website: www.commonandkind.com

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