The Winston-Salem Symphony and the Symphony Chorus Presents Considering Matthew Shepard
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (October 4, 2023) – The Winston-Salem Symphony and the Symphony Chorus will present the area premiere of Craig Hella Johnson’s Considering Matthew Shepard, a powerful three-part oratorio on Sunday, October 29, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. The concert takes place in Brendle Recital Hall, located inside the Scales Fine Arts Center on the campus of Wake Forest University.
On October 6, 1998, Matthew Shepard, a University of Wyoming student, endured a horrifying ordeal, being kidnapped, brutally beaten, and left to perish. This heinous act was one of America’s most infamous anti-gay hate crimes. The tragedy and its lasting impact deeply moved composer Craig Hella Johnson. “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,” said the Grammy Award winner Johnson. This October and the Winston-Salem Symphony Chorus performance mark 25 years since Shepard’s murder.
This three-part fusion oratorio emerges with a fresh and audacious voice, seamlessly blending various musical styles into a cohesive whole. Johnson skillfully incorporates a rich collection of poetic and soul-stirring texts by poets such as Hildegard of Bingen, Lesléa Newman, Michael Dennis Browne, and Rumi. The Shepard family and the Matthew Shepard Foundation collaborated closely with Johnson during the work’s creation, granting permission to incorporate fragments from Shepard’s personal diary. These excerpts, interwoven with interviews, writings from Matthew’s parents, newspaper reports, and additional texts by Johnson and Browne, add depth to the composition.
“Considering Matthew Shepard is a moving and thought-provoking work that seeks to inspire reflection, empathy, and action. It calls on individuals and society to confront hate and prejudice while honoring the memory of Matthew Shepard and the positive changes his legacy has brought about,” said Chris Gillam, Symphony Chorus Director. “At its core, the performance of this powerful work provides the opportunity for contemplation on a universal condition. It provides an opportunity to celebrate resilience and hope.”
A pre-concert talk led by musicologist Ryan Whittington, Ph.D., will occur in the band room adjacent to Brendle Recital Hall at 2:00 p.m. The audience is invited to stay for a post-concert panel discussion with Chorus Director Chris Gillam, chorus members, and community advocates.
Program Note: This work includes direct quotations from anti-gay activists who picketed Shepard’s funeral. Audience members should expect strong language and intense themes in the piece.
The Matthew Shepard Foundation arose from his legacy and was pivotal in expanding hate crime legislation to encompass sexual orientation. Congress passed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act in 2009. Information about the Foundation is available at matthewshepard.org
About the Winston-Salem Symphony Chorus
The Winston-Salem Symphony Chorus is an auditioned mixed ensemble of volunteer singers, many of whom are professional soloists or current members of area church and university choruses. Under the direction of Dr. Christopher Gilliam, The Symphony Chorus rehearses weekly and performs several times yearly with the Winston-Salem Symphony. For more information, visit wssymphony.org/about/chorus/.
About the Winston-Salem Symphony
Proud to be one of the Southeast’s most highly regarded regional orchestras, the Winston-Salem Symphony enters its 76th season, inspiring listeners of all ages throughout North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad with various concerts, education programs, and community engagement initiatives each year.
This concert and the Winston-Salem Symphony are supported by Season Presenting Sponsors Bell, Davis & Pitt, P.A.; Symphony Chorus Sponsors AM Erectors; Chris and Mike Morykwas; the Arts Council of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County; and the North Carolina Arts Council. Subscriptions and single tickets can be purchased online at wssymphony.org or by calling the Symphony Box Office at 336-464-0145.
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