Photo courtesy of Michigan Tech Jared Anderson conducts the combine choirs of Michigan Tech in a concert in 2024.

Photo courtesy of Michigan Tech
Jared Anderson conducts the combine choirs of Michigan Tech in a concert in 2024.

Michigan Tech Music invites the public for an evening of choral music with a combined performance by the Michigan Tech Concert Choir and conScience: Michigan Tech Chamber Singers. The event will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 19 at the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts on the Michigan Tech campus.

“Considering Matthew Shepard” will be conducted by Jared Anderson, chair of MTU’s department of visual and performing arts, with music by Craig Hella Johnson and texts by Michael Dennis Browne, Lesléa Newman, and Johnson.

The Grammy-nominated work is a powerful and compassionate response to the murder of Matthew Shepard 27 years ago. On the evening of Tuesday, October 6, 1998 Matthew Shepard, a gay college student at the University of Wyoming was kidnapped, beaten, tied to a fence and left to die on the high plains. This act of brutality has since become known as one of America’s most notorious anti-gay hate crimes.

“Most of the students at Michigan Tech were born after 1998, so they do not remember the news stories or the discussions that happened at that time.” Anderson said. “Considering Matthew Shepard” carefully weaves news stories and personal accounts along with devotional and emotional poetry that asks the listener to ‘consider’ what happened that October night in 1998.”

“Considering Matthew Shepard” was inspired and developed from October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard, a book of poems written by Lesléa Newman in the aftermath of Shepard’s murder. Newman uses fictitious monologues from various points of view as a deeply felt response to the events of that day including the fence Matthew was tied to, the stars that watched over him, the deer that kept him company, and Matthew himself. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the event.

The work fuses many different musical styles including classical, country, blues and gospel providing opportunities and challenges for both singers and sound crew. While the subject matter may be difficult, the message is one of inclusivity, understanding and hope. “The score for Considering Matthew Shepard has been on my piano for a few years, waiting for the right time to be performed here at Michigan Tech,” Anderson said. “It is my hope that people will come to the performance with an open mind and heart and then leave the performance with a resolve to be more kind, understanding, patient and accepting of each other — recognizing that we are all fellow travelers in our community, nation, and world. There is a place for all of us!”

Tickets are pay As You’re Able and are available online at tickets.mtu.edu, or at the Rozsa Box Office at 906-487-1906 (open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday). This event is eligible for Michigan Tech Student Rush Tickets.

Details

This event is part of the Michigan Tech Music Series and made possible by the Keweenaw Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, the Visual and Performing Arts Department, and its Circle of Supporters.