Arts & Culture

Shortly after being crowned Miss Universe, the victorious Mexican contestant Fatima Bosch Fernández stood alone on stage, clutching an enormous bouquet of flowers, shedding tears of joy and basking in the applause of an international audience.

A production that has captivated crowds in cathedrals across Europe — including in France, Germany and Spain — will make its United States debut at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis in late October.

Spiraling organ and choral music ushered in a new era for St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville Oct. 17 at a ceremony to kickstart a massive restoration project for the historic building.

Jaime Cortez, who was born in New York and raised in El Salvador, has engaged in multicultural music ministry throughout his career, collaborating with peers on a number of projects — including “Gracia y Amor/Grace and Love,” a collection with Hurd and Eleazar Cortés, and “Our Common Home.”