Twenty-five years have passed since Matthew Shepard, a young, gay student at the University of Wyoming was kidnapped, severely beaten and left to die in a field under a blanket of stars. Five days later, when Matt passed away, the world watched and reacted, passing hate crime legislation at the state and federal level. We will sing Matthew’s story by performing Craig Hella Johnson's oratorio, Considering Matthew Shepard.  A compelling array of musical styles and texts from Hildegard of Bingen, Lesléa Newman, Michael Dennis Browne, and Rumi. Passages from Matt’s personal journal, interviews and writings from his parents Judy and Dennis Shepard  and newspaper reports, convey that light prevails over darkness and love over hate.