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From YouTube: Considering Matthew Shepard
Description
At Boston Symphony Hall, Roger Brown, President of Berklee College of Music, introduces Mayor Walsh for remarks prior to the performance of Craig Hella Johnson's new musical masterwork, "Considering Matthew Shepard."
A
A
A
Welcome
everyone
we're
delighted
to
be
together
today
for
considering
Matthew
Shepard
with
cone
spirit
n
years
ago,
and
the
chaotic
youthful
tsunami
of
Austin,
Texas
known
as
South
by
Southwest
I,
met
at
a
coffee
shop
with
the
conductor
and
composer
of
Craig,
and
we
agreed
that
he
and
Berkeley
should
collaborate.
We
just
didn't
know
how,
when
or
where
fast
forward
eight
years
and
I'm
sitting
in
a
meeting
with
Debbie
cavalier,
who
runs
Berkeley
online,
our
award-winning
online
school
and
she
said
good
news.
A
A
A
David
was
pivotal
in
the
design
and
construction
of
our
new
160
Massachusetts
Avenue
building,
which
is
just
a
hundred
or
so
yards
from
here
and
Cathy
herself,
an
impeccably
educated
musician
from
the
overland
conservatory
trained
as
an
organist
in
a
vocalist.
They
were
also
high
school
sweethearts,
and
it's
thanks
to
David
and
Kathy
Clem
that
we're
here
today,
because
when
they
heard
considering
Matthew
Shepard,
they
were
determined
that
it
would
be
performed
here
in
Boston
at
Symphony
Hall.
For
this
audience,.
A
This
eloquent
and
ultimately
redemptive
work
of
art
features
texts
of
poets,
Leslie,
a
Newman
and
michael
dennis
brown,
both
of
whom
were
with
us
today.
We
have
another
nice
feature
that
will
help
signify
the
merger
of
Berkeley
with
boston,
conservatory
and
the
joint
degree
program
between
berkeley
and
harvard
that
we
announced
this
summer
and
that's
all
I'm
going
to
tell
you
for
now
with
David
and
Kathy's
encouragement,
we
asked
the
city
of
Boston
to
be
a
co-sponsor
consistent
with
Mayor.
Walsh
is
focus
on
the
arts
and
what
the
arts
can
do
to
build.
A
A
strong
and
healthy
city
and
the
city
enthusiastically
agreed.
So
today
is
my
honor
to
introduce
our
co-sponsor
mayor
Walsh,
who
has
been
an
unequivocal
and
adamant
supporter
of
the
idea
that
Boston
will
be
a
city
that
welcomes
people,
regardless
of
their
sexual
orientation,
regardless
of
their
race
or
ethnicity,
and
regardless
of
their
country
of
origin
and
berkeley
in
boston,
conservatory,
sandesh,
mayor
Walsh
and
miss
was
gone.
B
Thank
you.
I
want
to
our
first
begin
by
thanking
president
brown
and
Berkeley
for
the
great
work
that
Berkeley
does
in
our
city
in
education
around
the
odds.
I
want
to
thank
him
and
I
could
go
on
for
days
about
Roger
Browns
commitment
to
the
city
of
Boston
and
his
commitment
to
the
Arts
in
the
city.
I
won't
do
that
right
now,
but
I
want
to
thank
him.
I
want
to
thank
Judy,
Shepard
Matthews
mom
was
with
us
today.
Thank
you
very
much.
B
I
want
to
thank
the
Berkeley
School
of
Music
I
want
to
thank
the
Matthew
Shepard
foundation.
I
want
to
thank
all
of
the
musicians
that
are
going
to
perform
today.
I
want
to
thank
symphony
hall
and
I
want
to
thank
all
of
you
for
being
with
us
here
today.
It's
an
honor
to
join
such
an
incredible
group
of
artists
and
advocates
considering
Matthew
Shepard
is
the
memorial
to
a
young
man
who
was
taken
to
from
this
world
far
too
soon.
This
groundbreaking
work
is
also
a
testament
to
the
power
of
art.
Music
helps
us
heal.
B
It
helps
us
make
sense
of
our
sorrow
and
in
the
18
years
since
Matthew's
death,
we
have
struggled
to
understand
how
such
a
thing
could
happen.
We
have
searched
for
this
meaning
and
we
have
fought
to
create
a
world
where
it
can
never
happen
again.
We
know
that
our
work
is
know
when
they
finished,
but
I
wish.
Matthew
could
see
how
far
we
have
come.
B
The
path
to
peace
and
tolerance
is
never
a
straight
line,
but
we
push
forward
every
single
day
and
in
Boston
we
strive
to
be
the
type
of
city
that
would
make
Matthew
very
proud.
There
is
no
question
that
we
still
have
a
long
way
to
go.
We
still
need
to
make
big
changes
and
we
need
to
stand
up
to
those
who
would
take
us
backwards.
It's
my
hope
that
we'll
see
these
opportunities
to
make
a
difference
in
small
ways
as
well.
B
In
these
times
of
change
and
uncertainty,
it's
never
more,
never
been
more
important
to
simply
lend
a
hand
reach
out
to
our
friends
share.
A
kind
word
demonstrate
your
commitment
to
justice
to
a
simple
act
of
compassion
every
single
day.
I
think
that
that's
what
would
make
Matthew
proud
and
considering
Matthew
Shepard
brings
that
spirit
to
life
before
I.
Go
I
want
to
share
a
passage
from
considering
Matthew
Shepard
will
I
ever
know
why
I
was
put
on
this
earth?
B
Will
anyone
remember
me
after
I'm
gone?
If
only
Matthew
could
have
known
the
mark,
he
would
have
made
on
society.
We
will
never
forget
him,
we'll.
Never
stop
working
for
peace
and
justice.
May
we
honor
him
through
actions
every
single
day,
I
want
everyone
to
enjoy
this
performance,
and
thank
you
all
for
being
here
today.