I’m delighted to share that Nova Voce, Nova Scotia’s provincial men’s choir, has commissioned me to compose a new work inspired by my journey to the Arctic three years ago. This will be my second choral piece drawn from that experience. The first, I Am Ice, was an especially meaningful project, and it deepened my appreciation for the unique power of the human voice to capture the vastness and majesty of such extraordinary landscapes.
This new composition will set a poem by my Arctic shipmate and friend, Kathy Sirico. Kathy is a Brooklyn-based visual artist and writer whose work I’ve long hoped to bring into a musical setting. Her poetry often gives voice to nature itself, creating imagined conversations between humans and the natural world—an approach I find deeply evocative and inspiring.
Nova Voce envisions this piece as a multimedia experience, incorporating photos and video footage I captured during my time in the Arctic. My partner, Lisa, will be editing these visuals, which will be projected during the performance, adding another layer of storytelling to the music.
I’m very much looking forward to composing this new work later this year and to its premiere in May 2027. With any luck, I’ll be there to hear it in person – any opportunity to return to one of my favourite places in the world is always a gift!
