Considering Matthew Shepard: A Choral Suite
Free
Mark A. Miller — Love Has Broken Down the Wall
Joan Szymko — Myr, Zaraz
In October of 1998, Matthew Shepard, a young, gay student at the University of Wyoming in Laramie was kidnapped, severely beaten, tied to a fence, and left to die in a lonely field under a blanket of stars. Five days later, when Matt passed away, the world was watching. Approaching the eve of the 20th anniversary, composer Craig Hella Johnson responded with his first concert-length work, Considering Matthew Shepard.
The profound work Considering Matthew Shepard has been moving audiences around the world with its compelling message of love and acceptance. An abbreviated version of the larger work, this 25-minute choral suite uses the healing power of music to create a memorable experience for all who hear the piece.
Co-conducted by Stephen O'Bent (FCCB) and Benjamin Rogers (UCUCC), this performance features the combined choirs of FCCB and UCUCC and soloists Dennis Coleman, Sheila Houlahan, Virginia Plata, Michael Sederquist, and Heidi Wyllis Blythe, accompanied by a chamber orchestra.
Free parking is available and the church is a short walk from the Bellevue Transit Center
Masking is optional