CRAIG HELLA JOHNSON: Considering Matthew Shepard

Pride is more than a celebration—it is a profound period of remembrance, resilience, and hope. To mark the beginning of Pride month in Baltimore, The Emmanuel Choir presents an encore performance of Craig Hella Johnson's extraordinary passion oratorio, Considering Matthew Shepard.

This groundbreaking work transcends traditional musical boundaries, weaving together jazz, blues, country, and gospel to tell the heart-wrenching story of Matthew Shepard—the young gay Wyoming college student whose 1998 murder became a pivotal moment in the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights.

This year, we welcome the Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson, who in 2003 became the first openly gay priest consecrated as a bishop in a major Christian denomination. Bishop Robinson, who also interred Matthew Shepard's remains at Washington National Cathedral, will offer reflections after the program.

In collaboration with the Maryland Pride Center and Baltimore Pride, this performance is more than a concert—it is a testament to the power of art to heal, remember, and inspire. Join us as we honor Matthew Shepard's memory and celebrate the resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community, reminding us all that love will always triumph over hate.

• The Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson, guest speaker
• The Emmanuel Choir
• Chamber orchestra
• Soloists from within the choir
• Christian Lane, director