Matthew Shepard, a young gay student at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, was kidnapped, beaten, tied to a fence and left to die in a field alone. American composer Craig Hella Johnson felt compelled to make this tragedy the drive behind his first concert-length work, Considering Matthew Shepard.
“In our fractured world, it remains an important story, one that invites us to consider our own fears while allowing room for hope and healing,” said choir director Mark Vuorinen.
The Elora Singers will open their 2022-23 concert season with two special performances of this work on Saturday, October 15 at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at Harcourt Memorial United Church in Guelph.
“This story holds so many layers of meaning and raises many questions,” said Craig Hella Johnson in a statement. “Surprisingly and remarkably, although remembering the suffering of Matthew Shepard can be intense and very dark, I continue to also experience a call to the inner light which this story profoundly transmits.”
For full details about The Elora Singers’ 2022-2023 Concert Season, and to order tickets, visit Elorasingers.ca.
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