“Do you remember where you were and what you were doing when XXX happened?” When I was growing up, my elders asked that question about the bombing of Pearl Harbor in World War II. In more recent years, I hear my university colleagues ask that question to frame the 9/11 attacks for our college students at Butler.
And in between, I remember exactly that I was in the lobby of Lilly Hall at Butler on that October day in 1998, returning from leading a rehearsal of University Choir, when I saw a newspaper clipping someone had posted on the bulletin board: the innocent face of a college-aged man, Matthew Shepard, and news that he had been found tied to a fence in the Wyoming countryside, beaten horribly, now in a coma, and unlikely to recover. No mention was made of this having been a hate crime at that time. Or that he was gay. But I knew. I just knew that it was and that he was. And while tears welled and my heart broke for him, my brain raced…that could be me, that could be any of the precious young faces from the rehearsal I just finished leading, that could be any of the students with me in this hallway right now. That could be us. Every one of us. All of us. There but for the grace of God…
One of the great gifts that is the oratorio Considering Matthew Shepard is its reminder of the power of community, and the need to care for one another. “We are all sons of fathers and mothers, we are all rivers, the roar of waters.” And it’s a reminder that sharing our burdens with one another lifts each other up. “Will you lay down your burden, come with me? It will never be forgotten, held in love so tenderly.”
Composer Craig Hella Johnson’s composition, nearly two hours in length, fuses song, chant, narration, and text drawn straight from the headlines to offer an unflinching account of the tragedy that still makes us weep. Through his use of a vast array of musical forms, including quotations from Bach, Britten, Manuel de Falla, and musical styles like chant, gospel, blues, and country, Johnson’s music touches us all and represents us all. Ultimately, he reminds us that it is, indeed, “All of Us” who share a responsibility to one another—to care, to seek to understand, and to love.
We are honored to share this work with you this month. And we are lifted up, always, by the spirit of care and understanding that is the lifeblood of choral music. Thank you for joining us on this important journey. Though painful at times, together we place one foot in front of the other, undaunted, audaciously believing in the promise of a better tomorrow.
Dr. Eric Stark, Artistic Director, Indy Choir
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We believe singing is for everyone. That’s why this performance is offered as a pay-what-you-can event, part of our commitment to dismantling inequities in the arts and making choral singing accessible for all.
The lowest ticket price begins at just $5. If even that isn’t possible, we invite you to reach out to us directly at info@indychoir.org because no one should be excluded from the healing power of music.
While tickets start at $5, we encourage those who are able to consider making an additional gift—whether $10 or our suggested donation of $40 (regular tickets are $45). Every contribution helps cover the true cost of this event and ensures that the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir can continue sharing the joy and beauty of choral music with the entire community and beyond.
The October 23 performance will be generously hosted by Earlham College.
Following the October 18 concert, guests are warmly invited to stay for a 30-minute dessert and beverage reception in the Parish Hall. This special gathering will benefit Trinity Haven, Indianapolis’s only housing program dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ youth at risk of homelessness.
