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PRODID:-//GayOut//Event Export//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:287323@gayout.com
DTSTAMP:20260926T123420Z
DTSTART:20261011T150000Z
DTEND:20261011T170000Z
SUMMARY:Considering Matthew Shepard: Staged Choral Production
DESCRIPTION:Consonance revisits Craig Hella Johnson’s oratorio Consider
 ing Matthew Shepard in what would have been Matthew Shepard’s 50th birt
 hday year—a powerful and deeply relevant work that invites reflection\\
 , compassion\\, and remembrance. This staged production of the powerful o
 ratorio reflects on the life and legacy of Matthew Shepard\\, a 21-year-o
 ld college student in Wyoming who was murdered in October of 1998 in a ha
 te crime because he was gay. His death became a national turning point\\,
  sparking conversations about anti-LGBTQ+ violence that eventually led to
  federal hate-crime legislation bearing his name.\\nConsidering Matthew S
 hepard is a three-part oratorio\\, in which composer Craig Hella Johnson 
 wove together texts from Hildegard of Bingen\\, Rumi\\, poets Michael Den
 nis Browne and Lesléa Newman\\, Matt&#8217\\;s own journal entries\\, hi
 s parents&#8217\\; words\\, and news reporting from 1998 into a single wo
 rk that moves across a wide range of musical styles. The result isn&#8217
 \\;t one voice telling one story. Instead\\, it&#8217\\;s many voices lay
 ered together: a medieval mystic\\, a contemporary poet\\, a grieving fam
 ily\\, a newspaper account\\, all held inside the same piece. Since its 2
 016 premiere (ten years ago exactly) it&#8217\\;s been performed by hundr
 eds of choirs around the world. Through music that is both intimate and p
 rofound\\, this work invites us to remember\\, to reflect\\, and to recom
 mit ourselves to dignity\\, understanding\\, and love.\\nAfter the perfor
 mances\\nA talkback session will follow each performance with Matthew She
 pard hate crime historian and LGBTQ+ advocate Greg R. Baird. He has over 
 30 years experience as a civil rights speaker and educator\\, and is the 
 executive producer of a documentary on Matthew&#8217\\;s story. It&#8217\
 \;s a chance to keep the conversation going once the music ends.\\nhttps:
 //www.gayout.com/usa-canada/united-states/chicago/events/considering-matt
 hew-shepard-staged-choral-production-2026-10-11
LOCATION:chicagosocialbutterflies.com
URL:https://www.gayout.com/usa-canada/united-states/chicago/events/considering-matthew-shepard-staged-choral-production-2026-10-11
STATUS:CONFIRMED
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