Tenor
Photo: Al Bergeron
A World Transformed
A World Transformed is a unique performance that weaves together music, dance, and spoken word to tell the stories of Matthew and Judy Shepard. Matthew, a young man from Laramie, Wyoming, was brutally murdered because of his sexuality, igniting a global movement for 2SLGBTQ+ rights. In the aftermath of his tragic death, his mother, Judy Shepard, emerged as a leading human rights activist, dedicating her life to advancing equality and acceptance. Through the lens of both Matthew and Judy, A World Transformed shares their profound and historically pivotal stories, offering a tribute to their legacy and an urgent call for change.
This show was born from a deeply personal connection I felt to Matthew Shepard’s story while studying The Laramie Project in my final year as an undergraduate student. As a young gay man the same age as Matthew, his story immediately resonated with me. It also sparked a desire to honour his legacy and reimagine the classical recital format as a platform for sharing meaningful stories. Years later, with the right music and words, that idea became a performance rooted in both tragedy, hope, and the power of community.
Produced by Echo Chamber and choreographed by acclaimed Canadian dance makers William Yong and Laurence Lemieux, A World Transformed offers an immersive and daring fusion of music and dance as a unified artistic expression. This deeply moving performance explores profound grief while inspiring hope in the transformative power of every individual to drive social change.
With support from the Canada Council for the Arts, A World Transformed has been performed in venues across Canada, including Toronto, Oakville, Mount Allison and Acadia Universities, the Halifax Public Library, Ottawa Chamberfest, and as part of the IMAGINE Arts Incubator Residency at the Isabel Bader Theatre in Kingston, ON.
Photo: Curtis Perry
THE CAST
The cast of A World Transformed features some of Canada's most celebrated artistic talents. Our performers are recipients of Juno and Dora Mavor Moore Awards, and have performed across Canada, the United States, Mexico, Europe, and Asia, bringing exceptional skill and passion to this production.
Aaron Schwebel
VIOLIN, DIRECTOR OF ECHO CHAMBER
CAST BIOGRAPHIES
Photo: Al Bergeron
THE PROGRAM
The musical program features classical, musical theatre, folk, and popular genres, including works by Britten, Tchaikovsky, and Coulthard, alongside arrangements of songs by The Beatles, Joni Mitchell, and Simon & Garfunkel. I created it with the hope that audiences from all musical backgrounds would find something to connect with.
REVIEWS OF
A WORLD TRANSFORMED
"Listeners young and old are eager to see and hear more thoughtful approaches to representation and inclusion in classical music spaces. In terms of repertoire, format, and content, A World Transformed answers the call."
"A World Transformed was indeed a collaborative effort, a communal project into which all of the artists poured their thoughts, their feelings, their ideas, their hearts. No wonder it became so impressive, so powerful."
"Rarely have I experienced the deep quiet and listening around me at a performance. A World Transformed is the epitome of what art is meant to be."
"An incredible balance of tension, pacing, and storytelling."
"A very moving performance that had me in tears."
Photo: Curtis Perry
