Considering Matthew Shepard

Event Description

Prepare to be deeply moved by our concerts’ theme of ‘love’. Love, in all it’s many forms from parent to child, all the way to the love that hides within grief. Our main piece addresses the love and grief felt when someone is taken too early. The oratorio “Considering Matthew Shepard” recalls the life of Matthew Shepard and the events that led to his tragic death more than 25 years ago. The composition beautifully weaves together themes of love, grief, and compassion serving as an inspiring call to action for a more inclusive world.

Complementing the somber reflection of love and grief, the concert also features a piece called “Chosen Family,” a breathtaking choral cycle based on the poetry of Victoria's very own poet, John Barton. His poetry reflects on the enduring bonds formed with loved ones, and is beautifully set to music by Edmonton composer Stuart Beatch.

The theme of love continues in Fred Small’s “Everything Possible'', arranged by Canadian Willi Zwozdesky, and a captivating fusion of Larry Norman and Randy Stonehill’s “I Love You”, and George Weiss and Bob Thiele’s “What a Wonderful World,” arranged by Craig Hella Johnson.