Hamilton Philharmonic Performs “Considering Matthew Shepard,” Oratorio About Slain Gay Man

In Thursday’s (11/20) Ludwig Van (Toronto), Anya Wassenbeg writes, “The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra will present the oratorio ‘Considering Matthew Shepard’ in a concert featuring The Elora Singers on November 26. The oratorio by American composer Craig Hella Johnson is a moving work written as a response to the life of Matthew Shepard, tragically cut short by violence in 1998…. Just short of 22 years old, he was ambushed and attacked by two men, and left to die near Laramie, Wyoming. Tied to a fence in a remote area … he died … from the horrific head injuries he’d suffered during the attack…. The attack was motivated by anti-LGBTQ sentiment. The murder sparked legislation and several artistic creations … Johnson wrote his oratorio as a response to the murder, and more importantly, as a celebration of Matthew’s life. American choral conductor, composer, and arranger Craig Hella Johnson … served as a church organist in high school. He’d add conducting while studying towards his Bachelor’s degree in piano performance at St. Olaf College…. He [studied] at the Juilliard School, the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, and Yale University, eventually earning a Doctor of Musical Arts degree…. He is Professor and Resident Artist in Choral Music at Texas State University.” “Considering Matthew Shepard” premiered in 2016.