One of Cheryl Anderson’s first jobs after she earned her degree in choral music was teaching junior high school choral music in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Little did she know how that place and choir would impact her future life, jobs and decisions about a future musical performance.
On a recent radio show, Anderson, who was the Cabrillo College Choral Director for 35 years and currently serves as the Choral Director at Peace United Church, reflected about how that junior high school choir impacted her and the decision to bring the musical oratorio, “Considering Matthew Shepard” to Santa Cruz County.
A few years after teaching choral music in Wyoming, one of those junior high students called. Anderson recalls hearing the young man’s voice on the phone when he began, “I wanted to tell you how you have changed my life.” She responded how great it was to hear from him because he had been a great student, and she loved teaching his class.
He concluded the conversation in the mid-1980s with, “But you don’t understand, I have AIDS and I have two weeks to live and it was important for me to let you know that.”
Another student in that choir, who kept in touch with Anderson, later attended school at the University of Wyoming at the same time as Matthew Shepard’s death. Anderson describes these two interactions as “whammy” moments that she would never forget.
Matthew Shepard was a 21-year-old student who attended the University of Wyoming in the city of Laramie in 1998. Matt had come out as gay to his friends and family a few years earlier and was involved with the LGBTQ+ club in college. On October 6, 1998, he visited a bar where two men offered to give him a ride home but instead, robbed him, beat him, tortured him and tied him to a fence, leaving him to die. Matt died in a hospital six days later. His death was a national tragedy and his parents formed the Matthew Shepard Foundation as a result.
In 2016, acclaimed conductor Craig Hella Johnson composed a musical response to the story of Matthew Shepard entitled “Considering Matthew Shepard.”
Anderson attended the International Federation of Choral Musicians conference in Copenhagen where she heard the oratorio performed for the first time.
Her response was, “I knew the minute I heard it that I would have to have it performed to honor Jerry and all of my students from that school in Wyoming.”
Anderson first brought the performance to Cabrillo College in March 2020 but the run was interrupted by the pandemic, and only one weekend of shows was performed.
David Graham, who was one of the leads in the 2020 performance, recalled, “The experience of singing this music is spiritual, so when the show ended half way through the run, most of us said please we have to do this again.”
In 2025, David Pattee, pastor of Peace United Church, queried his music director, Anderson, about what they might do in 2026 to coincide with Santa Cruz Pride events. Her response was, “Let’s do Considering Matthew Shepard.”
In April 2026, auditions were held, and almost half of the performers are returning from the 2020 show.
One of the performers, Lu Haussler, could not be more elated, “When Cheryl sent out that email announcing the revival of the show at Peace United Church in honor of Pride month, I couldn’t respond fast enough. I hadn’t opened the bin in my closet with my tear-stained score, my prairie costume, and stage make-up for more than six years. It has been a joyful reunion with former and new cast members…everyone is passionate to share this story and this incredible music with the people of Santa Cruz.”
Diane Syrcle, who retired to Northern California and plays Judy Shepard in the performance, also looks forward to returning for the show. Her response was, “When Cheryl said she was doing the piece in 2020, there was nothing that could keep me from the production. Being part of the community that presented this important work continues to enrich my life. In 2026, we have the chance to sing it again, which feels like closure on the 2020 show. This work continues to open my heart, and singing it again with Cheryl is such an honor.”
Syrcle explains what people will gain from attending the performance, “There are so many who are afraid and hurting and without hope – it is time to stand together to hold each other up and to hold the country accountable. Attending a live performance is unique, and this piece is life-affirming and life-changing.”
Graham adds, “It’s about connection and healing.”
Considering Matthew Shepard has been performed over 250 times across the world.
Rob Darrow was born and raised in Santa Cruz before a career in education. He is also Chair of Santa Cruz Pride. The show will be performed on Sunday, June 14 at 3pm at Peace United Church and will be a benefit for the Santa Cruz Pride scholarship for queer youth.
More information can be found on the SantaCruzPride.org website. Tickets at PeaceUnited.org $25 advance; $30 at the door.
