Long Beach Camerata Singers new all-professional chamber group, the Catalyst Chamber Ensemble, will perform "Considering Matthew Shepard" on Sunday, November 13, 2022. This Grammy-nominated contemporary oratorio tells the story of young Matthew, who was beaten in Laramie, Wyoming and left to die in a deserted field. His death sparked nationwide awareness and sympathy and led to federal legislation.
This highly-varied music, composed by Craig Hella Johnson, will be performed by 24 singers and an instrumental ensemble of 9. The piece has been performed professionally in Los Angeles only once prior, in 2018. This is a don't-miss opportunity to hear one of the most important pieces of contemporary choral music ever composed.
The concert will take place at the Beverly O'Neill Theater at 4:30pm. A pre-concert lecture is included with the ticket price, and will be presented by Jeff Mack of the Matthew Shepard Foundation. Jeff Mack was acquainted with Matthew Shepard prior to his death and was on the ground in Laramie for the events that followed. He brings a unique perspective to the incident, the reaction, the legislation and the music.