Out of Hate, Hope: The Enduring Message of Considering Matthew Shepard

Published October 8, 2025 at 4:00 PM MDT

This week on The Forum, we remember the life of Matthew Shepard, a young gay student at the University of Wyoming, on the 27th anniversary of his murder. Brad Ellingboe, artistic director of Coro Lux, and Joe Mitchell, director of El Faro Youth Chorus, join co-host Rev. Talitha Arnold to discuss the upcoming performance of Considering Matthew Shepard. Throughout the program, listeners will hear excerpts from this powerful and deeply moving work — a musical reflection on love, loss, and hope.

On October 11, the Lensic Performing Arts Center will host a performance of Considering Matthew Shepard, a powerful three-part fusion oratorio by composer Craig Hella Johnson. Making the Santa Fe event especially notable, Johnson will conduct from the piano, with Ali McGraw serving as one of two narrators.

In this episode of The Forum, we explore the history of the work and why the tragedy of Matthew Shepard’s death continues to resonate — and hold special meaning in 2025. Joe Mitchell, who performs several solos, reflects on the challenge of singing pieces that express such hate toward gay men and others who face discrimination. Yet despite its heavy themes, the oratorio’s message — that we are all part of one humanity — is one of hope and promise.

Host: Jim Falk

Co-host: Talitha Arnold Guests: Bradley Ellingboe, Artistic Director, Coro Lux

Joe Mitchell, director El Faro Youth Chorus

Ticket Info: The Lensic Performing Arts Center, Oct. 11, 2025