Tyler Clementi
Sixteen years after Tyler Clementi’s death, the Rutgers University Glee Club will honor the late student and violinist with a performance of Tyler’s Suite on Nov. 6.
The performance will take place at 7 p.m. at the Nicholas Music Center, 85 George St. in New Brunswick, and feature a multimovement choral work celebrating Clementi’s life and legacy through music.
Clementi died by suicide on Sept. 22, 2010, after an intimate encounter with another man was livestreamed by Clementi’s roommate.
Tyler’s Suite will include compositions by Stephen Schwartz, Ann Hampton Calloway, Timothy Seelig and others. Rutgers will perform the work, which centers on themes of kindness, acceptance and community healing.
The evening will begin with a moderated conversation featuring Judy Jarvis, an LGBTQ+ scholar and associate vice provost at the University of Pennsylvania, and Jane Clementi, the cofounder and CEO of the Tyler Clementi Foundation.
Clementi described the event as a reminder of Rutgers’ commitment to inclusion and the continued relevance of her son’s story.
“It is another reminder for me that Rutgers cares deeply about creating safe, inclusive spaces for all their students to learn, live and thrive. And that Tyler’s story and legacy which will forever be connected to his brief time at Rutgers still has value and meaning to foster healthy conversations needed to create these changes,” she said.
Erica Friedman, director of the Tyler Clementi Center, emphasized the importance of remembering Clementi beyond the circumstances of his death.
“For me, this gathering is an opportunity to honor the progress made over the past 16 years while recognizing that healing, repair, and fostering a true sense of belonging require intentional resources and ongoing collaboration among multiple entities committed to centering marginalized voices. This event is about remembering Tyler for the person he was, celebrating his life and the things that brought him joy — including music — and reaffirming our shared responsibility to build communities where everyone feels valued and is treated with dignity,” Friedman said.
Brandon Williams, director of choral activities at Rutgers, shared his hopes for the performance.
“Rather than have Tyler’s life and legacy be defined by tragedy alone, we are honored to be a part of this project that amplifies his humanity, celebrates the fullness of who he was and shines a light of hope for a safer, kinder world.”
Admission to Tyler’s Suite is free. The livestream will be available here.