‘Considering Matthew Shepard’ is a three part fusion oratorio composed by Craig Hella Johnson that honors the life and legacy of Matthew Shepard, who at 21-years-old was the victim of one of America’s most notorious anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes. It is about to performed by the Master Chorale of South Florida in Fort Lauderdale
The oratorio speaks with a fresh and bold voice, incorporating a variety of musical styles seamlessly woven into a unified whole. Johnson sets a wide range of poetic and soulful texts by poets including Hildegard of Bingen, Lesléa Newman, Michael Dennis Browne, and Rumi. Passages from Matt’s personal journal, interviews and writings from his parents Judy and Dennis Shepard, newspaper reports, and additional texts by Johnson and Browne are poignantly appointed throughout the work.
Craig Hella Johnson explains “Matt Shepard and his story have led me on an inspiring, challenging and deeply meaningful journey that I continue to this day. In composing Considering Matthew Shepard I wanted to create, within a musical framework, a space for reflection, consideration and unity around his life and legacy.”
Conducted by Brett Karlin, Considering Matthew Shepherd will be performed at Sunshine Cathedral
in Fort Lauderdale on May 31st and June 1st Details and Tickets HEREPS You may also like to check out. “Matt Shepard Was A Friend of Mine : the retelling of a true story that should never ever have ended like this”
Plus our interview with Judy Shepard https://queerguru.com/judy-shepard-there-was-so-much-more-to-matt-than-the-way-he-died/
Labels: 2024, Celebration concert, Considering Mathew Shepard, Fort Lauderdale, Master Chorale of South Florida, Matthew Shepard, Sunshine Cathedral
