Considering Matthew Shepard

The Chorallective presents the Singapore premiere of Considering Matthew Shepard, a groundbreaking 21st-Century fusion oratorio by Craig Hella Johnson (USA), originally written in response to real-life events surrounding the titular character, who was a victim of hate-crime.

Blending classical choral writing with other genres of musical theatre, opera, literary arts (spoken word), pop, blues and country music, with a libretto that integrates a collection of text influenced by poetry, journalism, and artifacts, Considering Matthew Shepard is a phenomenal crossover of musical styles that defies strict categorization, and thus reflecting the “everyman” nature of the story and the lessons learnt.

With music serving as a vehicle for moving beyond tragedy and into understanding and healing, Considering Matthew Shepard emphasizes on building emotional resilience through music-making as a community, and fostering a culture of empathy that transcends differences.

Led by Choy Siew Woon (Artistic Director) and Seong Hui Xuan (Stage Director), the performance is a gripping, transformative exploration of universal themes — of mutual respect, grief management, anti-violence, social justice and the restorative power of community. The music finds its methods of expression in deep feeling, at once moving and galvanising. It’s everything we find we believe in time and again: the power of music and language combined and concentrated, enough to fill the expanse of a night sky.

Come and hear this story of us all.