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Concerts

Music for Humanity Concert

Concert Saturday, November 16, 7:30pm; AHCC Sanctuary.

“Considering Matthew Shepard”

View lyrics and program notes

On October 6, 1998, University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard was kidnapped, beaten, and left to die, in what became an infamous act of brutality, and one of America’s most notorious anti-gay hate crimes. Shepard’s murder ultimately led to the creation of the Matthew Shepard Foundation and provided a catalyst for legislation that expanded the definition of a hate crime to include sexual orientation. Composer Craig Hella Johnson had a profoundly personal reaction to both the murder and its resonance. The Shepard family and Foundation engaged with Johnson in the creation of the work, and allowed the use of fragments from Shepard’s personal diary.

This Music for Humanity Concert features the AHCC Sanctuary Choir under the direction of Jack Pott. The oratorio, written in 2016, weaves together a vast range of musical styles to reflect the universality of this story. Considering Matthew Shepard is a Grammy-nominated three-part oratorio that is an evocative and compassionate musical response to the murder of Matthew Shepard.

Tickets (at the door) are $20 for adults, free for ages 18 and under and students with ID.

Believing that music is a window to the presence of the Creator, Asylum Hill Congregational Church presents concerts that feature local, national, and internationally known performing artists. With multiple events and varied styles, all are welcome to experience the music they love.

Male and Female SInger

John and Edie Murphy
Music for Humanity Concerts

Music for Humanity ties together the music and outreach ministries of our church. John and Edie Murphy were members of AHCC’s Legacy Fellowship and left a sizable gift in their estate plans. Pursuant to the interests of the Murphy family, the AHCC Board of Deacons voted to set aside $500,000 of that gift to establish a “Music for Humanity” fund, the income from which is used to offset the cost of presenting concerts. And since presentation costs are covered by this fund, all proceeds from ticket sales and donations are directed to a Hartford area service agency or community program supported by the church.