ABOUT THE ARTISTS IGNITE @ THE FORD!

Other European performances include the books Heather Has Two Mommies and Presented by the Ford Theatre Polyfollia Festival in France (2012) and the Ketzel, The Cat Who Composed; the poetry Foundation, IGNITE @ the FORD! is a Olavsfestdagene festival in Trondheim, collections, I Carry My Mother and Lovely; series comprised of world-renowned Norway (2016). contemporary artists whose work is and the short story collection A Letter to thought-provoking and reflects the world Harvey Milk, which was recently adapted for At home, Conspirare performs a full annual in which we live. If you enjoy tonight’s the stage as a musical. Newman, a former performance, we invite you to explore season in Austin and Central , and is a poet laureate of Northampton, Massachusetts, the other events in the series. Resident Company of Austin’s Long Center for FRIDAY & SATURDAY has received poetry fellowships from the the Performing Arts. Curated by Olga Garay-English, National Endowment for the Arts and the Interim Executive Director of the Ford Theatre. Massachusetts Artists Foundation. She JUNE 15 & 16, 2018 MICHAEL DENNIS BROWNE teaches at Spalding University’s low- IGNITE @ the FORD! is supported by Los 8:30 PM Michael Dennis Browne’s latest collection residency MFA in Writing program. October Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl. of poems is Chimes, published in 2017 by Proceeds from tonight’s performance Mourning: A Song for benefit the Ford Theatre Foundation. Nodin Press. His poems have been published received an American Library Association in many magazines and anthologies, and Stonewall Honor and the Florida Council The Ford Theatre Foundation is a his awards include fellowships from the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that Teachers of English Joan F. Kaywell Books serves the community of Los Angeles National Endowment for the Arts and the Save Lives Award. Newman works closely through its support of the John Anson Bush Foundation. Two of his collections have with the Matthew Shepard Foundation as a Ford Theatres. Every year, with support won the Minnesota Book Award for poetry. member of their speakers bureau. She has from the Foundation, the Ford Theatres As a librettist, he has written many texts visited schools all over the country, giving presents an eclectic season of culturally for music, working for almost four decades diverse music, dance, theatre, film and her presentation He Continues to Make a family events. In addition to IGNITE with composer Stephen Paulus. Their post- Difference: The Story of Matthew Shepard. @ the FORD!, a portion of the season Holocaust oratorio To Be Certain of the She lives in Holyoke, Massachusetts. is programmed in partnership with LA Dawn was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in County-based artists, producers and CONSIDERING music by the Minnesota Orchestra. Browne arts organizations. Complementing is a professor emeritus of English at the its work in support of the Ford, the Foundation presents programs that University of Minnesota, where he taught for Tonight’s program is taking place as part provide opportunities to connect, MATTHEW SHEPARD 39 years and was a member of the Academy of the City of West Hollywood and WeHo share and create together. For more of Distinguished Teachers. Arts’ One City One Pride commemoration of information or to get involved, please this important anniversary. visit FordTheatres.org. LESLÉA NEWMAN Chris Isaacson Presents (Considering Lesléa Newman is the author of 70 books for Matthew Shepard Co-Presenter) has readers of all ages, including the children’s created, produced and promoted more than 700 events since the company’s founding in 2004. From small clubs to major theatres, CIP has presented CONSPIRARE/CONSIDERING MATTHEW SHEPARD Special Thank You to our Los Angeles Sponsor-A-Singer some of the most influential stars of DONORS Donors: this generation. Most recently, CIP With the support of donors like you, Conspirare is Anonymous, Carl Caricari & Margaret Murray Miller, produced an extravaganza for the new able to continue presenting Craig Hella Johnson’s Fran & Larry Collmann, Sandy & Bill Fivecoat, Ron series POSE (FX Networks) at LA Pride Considering Matthew Shepard to national audiences. Jernigan, Carolyn J. Keating, Johanna & Mitch Vernick, 2018, and the inaugural charitable event Conspirare gratefully acknowledges the following: Joni Wallace, Susanna Finnell “GAIN: Brighter Futures,” starring Alisan Porter (winner of NBC’s The Voice) and LOS ANGELES PERFORMANCE SPONSORS: Support also comes from the National Endowment GRAMMY®-winner Thelma Houston. Lee Manford & Casey Blass for the Arts, Texas Commission on the Arts and the For more information on upcoming CIP Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic SEASON SUSTAINING UNDERWRITER: Development Department. events including Richard Shelton (June South Texas Money Management 29), David Burnham (July 17), and Tony SPECIAL THANKS: Award-winner John Lloyd Young (July 26 AGENT OF CHANGE SPONSORS: Viera Buzgova, Rod Caspers, Elliot Forrest, Dean & 28), go to ChrislsaacsonPresents.com. Anonymous, Fran & Larry Collmann, Legacy of Sound, Hansell, Robert Harlan, Gregory Hinton, Dale & Tina One Skye Foundation Inc, The Fetzer Institute, Knobel, Lee Manford & Casey Blass, Cathy Renna. Composed & Conducted by The Kodosky Foundation For a complete list of donors, please visit the ADVOCATE SPONSORS: Collaborators tab at conspirare.org/project/ CRAIG HELLA JOHNSON Alice Kleberg Reynolds Foundation, Eric Copper, Crutch considering-matthew-shepard. & Danna Crutchfield, Beverly Dale, Dee Garcia, Lee Manford & Casey Blass, Johanna & Mitch Vernick Conspirare is engaged in ongoing fundraising to support future performances as part of a AKBAR CATALYST SPONSORS: national tour. Please contact Marianne DeLeon at a neighborhood oasis Anonymous++, Jim Arth, Ginger & Michael Blair, Chris [email protected] to discuss underwriting & Dennis Cavner, Catherine Clark, Mela Sarajane Dailey opportunities or give today at conspirare.org/donate. & Peter Bay, Virginia & Robert Dupuy, Sandy & Bill Fivecoat, Mary Nell Frucella, Evelyn & Rick Gabrillo, Conspirare presents Considering Matthew Shepard Karen & Paul Galindo, Danny Hamilton & Paul Hilliard, is an artist represented by Cadenza Artists LLC Lara & Robert Harlan, Richard Hartgrove & Gary Cooper, 12021 Wilshire Blvd #710, Los Angeles, CA 90025 Carr Hornbuckle & Jack Leifer, Angie & Steve Larned, CadenzaArtists.com City of West Hollywood Emily Little, Thomas Lukens, Stefanie Moore & Todd California 1984 Keister, Toyota Motor N.A., Linda & Robert Ramsey, Susan & Jack Robertson, Julia & Patrick Willis, James Presented in association with Chris Isaacson Presents Wood and the individuals too numerous to list here. The John Anson Ford Theatres is a County of Los Angeles venue. IGNITE @ THE FORD! FORD THEATRES | 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood, CA 90068 FordTheatres.org @FordTheatres #ThePlaceToBe

IgniteProgramTemplate_2018_consideringmatthewshepard.indd 1 6/13/2018 11:33:25 PM THE LEGACY OF ARTIST’S STATEMENT PROGRAM MATTHEW SHEPARD

Because of what I do, I’m often asked to Like so many people, I was deeply moved and affected by the death of a Conspirare PRODUCTION TEAM arrangements. His music is also published share what Matthew Shepard’s life, death and young, gay Wyoming man in 1998, Matthew Wayne Shepard. The events Craig Hella Johnson, Conductor & Pianist Robert Harlan, Technical Director by Alliance Music Publications. legacy mean to me and to our community surrounding his death created an enormous feeling in me which continued Viera Buzgova, Stage Manager and nation today. The passage of time has SOPRANO Kristen Simpson, Crew Johnson’s first concert-length composition made it harder to give a short answer. to reverberate for the months and years after. I felt such a strong inner desire Mela Sarajane Dailey – Austin, TX Randall Squires, Connor Goodrum, Joel Considering Matthew Shepard was to respond somehow, especially musically. This feeling stayed with me many Kemper Florin – Cincinnati, OH Matt – as his friends invariably called him Hume, Nomad Sound, Audio premiered and recorded by Conspirare years. But it was not until somewhat recently that I felt ready to give voice to Melissa Givens – Augusta, GA – was a friend, one of several I have lost Walter Olden, Lighting Supervisor for a 2016 CD release. Johnson’s Estelí Gomez – Watsonville, CA over the years to one tragedy or another. His this inner response. This story holds so many layers of meaning and raises Daniel Weingarten, Ford Theatres accomplishments have been recognized larger-than-life presence made him hard to Gitanjali Mathur – Austin, TX many questions. My own journey with Matt and his story has proven to be Lighting & Image Designer with numerous awards and honors. Notably forget and his continuing life as a historic Stefanie Moore – Los Angeles, CA an inspiring, challenging and deeply meaningful exploration that continues. Daniel Tator, Projection Consultant among them, he and Conspirare won a 2014 figure and symbol stands alone amongst Fotina Naumenko – Washington, DC GRAMMY® for Best Choral Performance, those of my loved ones who left us too soon. Surprisingly and remarkably, although remembering the suffering of Matthew Kathlene Ritch – Santa Fe, NM LIVESTREAM Chorus America granted him the Michael In that sense, his legacy means to me what Shepard can be intense and very dark, I continue to also experience a call to it means to so many – a fixed point in the Shari Alise Wilson – Austin, TX John Stinson & Stinson Recording Studios Korn Founders Award for Development of the inner light which this story profoundly transmits. LA36 path toward LGBT acceptance in our society, ALTO the Professional Choral Art in 2015, and the Bob Adler, Coastal Media Group ultimately being achieved despite, or because Ana Baida – Atlanta, GA Texas State Legislature named him Texas of, fallen heroes. As a choral musician, I am connected to the Passion settings, especially those (Coastal Satellite) Sarah Brauer – Portland, OR State Musician for 2013. Other honors have of J.S. Bach, the St. Matthew Passion and the St. John Passion. At first I felt included 2008 induction into the Austin What means the most to me to say, though, Angela L. Burns – Wilmington, NC CONSPIRARE STAFF Arts Hall of Fame, Chorus America’s 2009 is that the importance of Matt Shepard was called to compose a Passion setting of Matthew Shepard, which now makes Tynan Davis – New York, NY Craig Hella Johnson, Artistic Director his humanity. He was a man who lived. He up some of the central section of this work. It has evolved and expanded from Laura Mercado-Wright – Austin, TX Ann McNair, Managing Director Louis Botto Award for Innovative Action and had a family, aspirations, friendships, dates, that point. I very much wanted Matt’s voice to be heard, even if in a small way. Keely J. Rhodes – Austin, TX Roland Barrera, Office Manager and Entrepreneurial Zeal, and the 2011 Citation of photographs, diaries, foods he disliked, Conspirare Concierge Merit from international professional music politicians he disliked more, and always, Additionally, I also wanted to provide a space for reflection, consideration and TENOR Marianne DeLeon, Chief Development Officer fraternity Mu Phi Epsilon. Johnson studied the opinions. So many opinions, so rich, unity within this musical framework. Matt Alber – Portland, OR Rick Gabrillo, Associate Conductor at St. Olaf College, the Julliard School, and so passionately advanced and skillfully J.D. Burnett – Athens, GA the University of Illinois, and earned his defended in debate. He was also gay. It’s sad For the formation of the libretto, I chose to gather a collection of texts from Robert Harlan, Production Consultant Dann Coakwell – Ithaca, NY doctorate at Yale University. that’s all so many people ever knew of him. Natalie Howard, Conspirare Youth Choirs writers whose words span several centuries and represent significant cultural Carr Hornbuckle – San Antonio, TX Jaime Leighton, Production Administrator and geographic differences. I am enormously indebted to Lesléa Newman for Jos Milton – Oxford, MS CONSPIRARE Matt loved the theatre, films and music, and and Webmaster so it is fitting that a growing part of how Wilson Nichols – , NY Established in Austin, Texas in 1991, October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard, which created the inspiration Ben R. King, Production Assistant he is honored and remembered is through Jason Vest – Cincinnati, OH Conspirare is a GRAMMY®-winning and foundational structure for the Passion music. At just the right moment, Meri Krueger, Artist Relations the artistic achievements of those who, like and internationally the poem which became Matthew’s aria appeared - In Need of Breath by Daniel Kathy Leighton, House Manager myself, mourned his passage and refused BASS recognized choir to fully heal from the shock we all felt at his Rachel McGinnis, Media Coordinator Ladinsky. Other poetic voices include the German mystic Hildegard von Bingen, Charles Wesley Evans – Tampa, FL with a reputation violent, needless death. His life and the scar Jane Ramirez, Business Manager the Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore, W.S. Merwin. David Farwig – Denver, CO for “expanding the that holds its place for many of us is also Rick Gabrillo – Round Rock, TX a wellspring for our noblest intentions and boundaries of choral Robert Harlan – Austin, TX inspirations. It is a gateway to action, a fitting Because the American West is so important to the telling of this story and ABOUT THE ARTISTS performance” (Wall Harris Ipock – Winchester, VA place of pilgrimage for our passion. our consideration of it, I include two Wyoming poets, John Nesbitt and Sue Street Journal). CRAIG HELLA JOHNSON Wallis. For me, the expression of contrasting intimacy and grandeur along with Enrico Lagasca – Rego Park, NY Conspirare, which Matt’s life tells us, live yours as you. Be As Conspirare’s founder and Artistic John Proft – Austin, TX translates from Latin as authentic. Follow your head and your heart images of both the enduring and the ephemeral evoked in Sue Wallis’ Cattle, Director, Johnson assembles some of Thann Scoggin – Austin, TX “to breathe together,” is comprised of soloists and celebrate where it leads. Horses, Sky and Grass creates a space in which all of the other texts can dwell. today’s finest singers from around the country. Conspirare’s For some of the sections, I created texts myself. INSTRUMENTALISTS to form a world-class What we will hear in this performance is the extensive discography includes 11 releases Vanguel Tangarov, Clarinet – Austin, TX ensemble. Johnson sound of a place that went undiscovered for on the Harmonia Mundi label. The 2014 A very special shout of acclamation goes out to Michael Dennis Browne, Stephen Redfield, Violin – Hattiesburg, MS is also music director a long time. It lived in a composer’s heart and album The Sacred Spirit of Russia won the mind and it took nourishment from the life of the remarkable writer who brought all of his gifts to bear in one of the most Ames Asbell, Viola – Austin, TX of the Cincinnati Vocal GRAMMY® for Best Choral Performance. one young man who once was here among memorable collaborations imaginable. From the beginning, he understood my Douglas Harvey, Cello – Austin, TX Arts Ensemble and Jessica Valls, Double Bass – Austin, TX us. Matt’s legacy is many things. This event, passion for creating a special song in large form for Matthew and he met me conductor emeritus Conspirare’s ambitious mission is to this moment, us together here, is one of its Mitch Watkins, Guitar – Austin, TX of the Victoria Bach engage the power of music to change lives. faces. I hope when you leave here, you take wherever I felt there was a need in the content or the pacing of the work. Thomas Burritt, Percussion – Leander, TX Festival. He has served Conspirare has commissioned works from this moment with you, and look for the next Austin Haller, Rehearsal Pianist – Austin, TX one. Keep Matt and his story in your heart, The singers of Conspirare inspired me at every turn. Their voices were in my as guest conductor with Austin Symphony, a wide-range of composers. A commitment and you will surely find it. imagination as I composed this piece and they brought it into being with ALL OF US CHOIR San Antonio Symphony, Oregon Bach to new music and willingness to showcase a Festival, Harvard University and many others broad context through diverse programming Jason Marsden tender devotion. I am so grateful that four of Conspirare’s soloists could beat June 15, 2018 Executive Director in Texas, the U.S., and abroad. is evident from their first recording in 2004, this performance. USC Chamber Singers Through the Green Fuse. Other GRAMMY®- Matthew Shepard Foundation Johnson was Director of Choral Activities at Tonality nominated or winning works include the University of Texas at Austin from I am deeply grateful to Dennis and Judy Shepard for their incredible generosity Metropolitan Master Chorale Requiem (2006), Threshold of Night (2008, 1990-2001 and remains an active educator, in continuing to support all of our remembrances of their beloved son Matt, Phyllis Bailey Brooks & Friends music by Tarik O’Regan), the 2009 PBS teaching workshops and clinics statewide, and for being such extraordinary warriors for love in the world. June 16, 2018: television special A Company of Voices: nationally, and internationally. In fall 2012 he VOX Femina Conspirare in Concert, and Pablo Neruda: became the first Artist-in-Residence at Texas Thank you so much for your presence and participation in this performance Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles The Poet Sings (2016). State University School of Music. at Los Angeles’ beautiful Ford Theatres. I hope that you will remain engaged Trans Chorus of Los Angeles Conspirare represented the U.S. at the A composer and arranger, Johnson works with Conspirare’s continuing musical work and I invite you to get to know more CREATIVE CONTRIBUTORS Eighth World Symposium on Choral Music in with G. Schirmer Publishing on the Craig about us at conspirare.org. Michael Dennis Browne, Poet & Co-Librettist Copenhagen in 2008. Lesléa Newman, Poet Hella Johnson Choral Series, featuring specially selected composers as well as With gratitude, Rod Caspers, Co-Producer & Co-Director Continued on reverse... Elliott Forrest, Co-Director & some of his own original compositions and IGNITE @ THE FORD! Craig Hella Johnson Projection Designer FordTheatres.org

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