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Considering Matthew Shepard

Music by: Craig Hella Johnson

Text by: Michael Dennis Browne, Leslea Newman, Craig Hella Johnson

Craig Hella Johnson’s oratorio Considering Matthew Shepard is a deeply moving musical response to the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard. Blending poetry, personal reflections, historical texts, and passages inspired by Shepard’s own life, the work explores themes of compassion, forgiveness, and the human capacity for both cruelty and healing.

Rather than presenting a straightforward narrative, the piece unfolds as a meditation on loss and empathy, giving voice not only to Shepard, but also to his family, community, and even those connected to the crime. Through its fusion of classical, folk, and contemporary musical styles, the oratorio invites listeners to confront the impact of violence while ultimately pointing toward hope, reconciliation, and the possibility of collective understanding.

Main

May 23 at 7:00 and May 24 at 4:00

Available Pricing Options

  • General Admission : $15.00 + $1.46 fee

Events

This concert event will take place in the sanctuary of Zion Lutheran Church.  Please join us one hour prior in the Family Life Center for a pre-concert discussion of the tragedy surrounding Matthew Shepard's death as well as the construction of Craig Hella Johnson's musical work.

On Sale

Apr 07, 2026 at 12:00pm to

May 25, 2026 at 12:00pm

Run Time

105 minutes (performed without intermission)

Venue

The Sanctuary

Zion Lutheran Church

Genre