On October 10th, musicians from around the country joined at Birdland to celebrate The Matthew Shepard Foundation with music and fun. The cast included Randi Driscoll and Noah Heldman, Jason & deMarco, Max von Essen, Christopher Sieber, Scott Nevins, Billy Stritch, David Gurland and host Jim Caruso.One of the highlights of the benefit concert was Max von Essen's performance of "Not Afraid," from Michael Arden's "Easter Rising." Von Essen, who has starred on and off-Broadway in Dance of the Vampires and Finian's Rainbow, says, "It's the first time I've sung the song...but it's so incredibly beautiful. It's captures the moment when a man realizes he's in love with another man. It seemed very appropriate for the evening, since we celebrated the life of Matthew Shepard, who lost his life because of who he loved."