Free Concert Commemorating 15th Anniversary of Matthew Shepard's Death to take place on Saturday, October 26 at 8 p.m. on Park Avenue at 85th Street

A free concert commemorating the 15th Anniversary of Matthew Shepard's Death will take place on Saturday, October 26 at 8 p.m. on Park Avenue at 85th Street.

Arts at The Park is pleased to start its 2013-14 season with a concert commemorating the 15-year anniversary of Matthew Shepard's death. Featuring the "shape-shifting" and "poetic" (Time Out New York) Choral Chameleon, directed by Artistic Director Vince Peterson, the program, by turns poignant and joyful, will celebrate life and the beautiful diversity of our community while raising awareness about social issues that affect us all. The concert will take place on Saturday, October 26th at The Park Avenue Christian Church (known affectionately as "the Park"), 1010 Park Avenue at 85th Street in Manhattan and is free and open to the public; donations accepted.

Works on the program include Elegy for Matthew by San Francisco-based composer David Conte, as well as two Whitman settings by Conte and Michael Hennagin: Invocation and Dance and Give Me the Splendid Silent Sun. Artistic Director Vince Peterson tops off the program with his surprising setting of The Carpenters' timeless song Top of the World.

Founded by Vince Peterson in 2008, Choral Chameleon has become known for inspiring listeners with its truly amalgamated concert programming, which address human themes relatable to their audiences. Its singers comprise the most varied musical backgrounds and influences, giving the group an ever-changing, idiomatically virtuosic, and spontaneously transforming sound. The group has also strived to redefine the role of a choir in the performing arts and to put choral singing where it is least expected.

Not limiting its work to concertizing, Choral Chameleon has ignited an extensive education outreach initiative, which includes workshops with high school and community singers, an eight-day choral institute for composers and conductors every year in June, and a 40-voice a-vocational chorus called Chameleonic, which is uniquely co-led by Vince Peterson and three Choral Chameleon singers in at least two concerts per season.

Arts at The Park, a component of the Park Avenue Christian Church (known as "The Park"), brings together outstanding performers and ensembles from the greater New York City metropolitan area for programs that enrich and inspire and that touch our shared human story and experience. Arts at The Park include live music, theater, political and theological discourse, and family and holiday events. Artistic Director of Arts at The Park is Paul Vasile.