Schola Cantorum Brings Powerful Masterwork to Campus in 'Considering Matthew Shepard'

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On April 15, the U of A Schola Cantorum will perform Considering Matthew Shepard, one of the 21st century's most powerful masterworks and one of the only choral works to focus on LGBTQ+ issues. 

The music tells the story of Matthew Shepard, who in 1998 was brutally murdered in an anti-gay hate crime and whose legacy served as a turning point in American culture, leading to the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Anti Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009. The act expanded the definitions of hate crimes to include LGBTQ+ persons. Shepard's ashes were later interred at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.

The work is one hour and 45 minutes long with no intermission. "The music is a mixture of American styles including country, blues and shape-note singing," said Stephen Caldwell, the director of the Schola Cantorum. "Craig Hella Johnson's score melds many uniquely American styles to tell a uniquely American story. There are so many ways for the audience to connect with it."

Though there are descriptions of violence and the use of a gay slur, the piece is ultimately about the healing power of love and how we can use that love to build a better society. 

The concert will be at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 15, at the Faulkner Performing Arts Center on campus. Tickets are $20 general admission and $10 for students. Advanced reservation is highly encouraged, and reservations may be made at faulkner.uark.edu or by visiting the FPAC box office.