Jerusalem conservatory picks late RB man’s only composition

By Elizabeth Marie Himchak

Three years after his death, a local man’s only known choral piece will be performed in Jerusalem this holiday season, an apt setting for a song about the birth of Jesus.

The late Matthew Herriman composed the music and lyrics for “Pageant” in 2009, a choral selection performed at San Rafael Catholic Church’s Christmas concert that year. It is about the birth of Jesus, the angels that appeared to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the shepherds, and not being afraid, said Matthew’s mother, Darleen Herriman.

“The first time I heard it I thought, ‘wow,’ because I didn’t know he could compose such a good piece,” Darleen said.

Following Matthew’s unexpected death in February 2011 at the age of 28, possibly due to an undetected heart arrhythmia, the church’s choir performed “Pageant” at its Christmas concert in his memory, Darleen said. Matthew was a music minister at the Rancho Bernardo church. He sang in its traditional choir and directed its contemporary choir for several years.

“We sat in the back and it was really hard (to hear),” she said of the second performance. “It just touched our hearts and brought tears to our eyes. It is poignant that this is part of his legacy.”

For the third time “Pageant” will be performed in public, but this time instead of at the church he attended it will be thousands of miles away when The National Conservatory of Music in Jerusalem has its adult students perform it as part of the Christmas festival season that runs from Nov. 23 through Jan. 17.

“It means a lot (to us) ... to be performed where Jesus walked, ... lived and spoke,” Darleen said about the song’s international debut. “I can’t think of anything better. Our whole family is thrilled.”

She and her husband, Ray, decided awhile back to publish their youngest child’s only composition. This is the first performance since it became available. “This is a huge blessing for us and Matthew’s memory, especially in the Holy Land where Jesus was born,” she said.

Originally, the couple was told the conservatory was going to perform the song in October, and being willing to go anywhere to hear their son’s song, Darleen and Ray planned a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to attend the concert, she said. Two days before leaving their Poway home, they were informed “Pageant” would not be performed during their visit, but a several weeks later as part of the festival. They still made the trip and visited the music conservatory, but will not be able to make return visit. However, conservatory officials have promised to send them a video of the performance, Darleen said.

Darleen and Ray Herriman are music ministers at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Poway, where Matthew attended while growing up. The Herrimans and their five children moved to Poway in 1986, and Matthew attended St. Michael’s School, Twin Peaks Middle School and graduated from St. Augustine High School in 2000. He was a music major at his alma mater, San Diego State University, where he focused on vocal performance.

During college and after graduation Matthew became involved with his new parish, San Rafael, where in addition to music ministry he was in the Knights of Columbus. He was also music director for Christian Youth Theater, a program he was involved with since childhood, Darleen said.

As a teen, Matthew had talked about becoming a priest, but did not seriously start discussing it again until shortly before his death. Darleen said Matthew told Ray he felt he was being called by God, though it was not clear in what way. So he decided to begin the discernment process to become a priest. He died a week after that conversation with his father.

Darleen said they were shocked and dumbfounded by the way his calling by God unfolded, but said, “Matthew knew he was being called. ... If anyone was ready (to face God), he certainly was.”

The Herrimans set up a music scholarship fund at SDSU to help music majors, especially male vocalists, obtain their education. Darleen said all money she receives by speaking for retreats and groups goes to the scholarship, as will proceeds from the sale of “Pageant” if purchased through her.

She would like to see local churches or groups perform it in the future. “I only ask, if they perform it for money, that a donation be given to the scholarship fund,” she said.

For details, contact Darleen Herriman at onedreamchoir@gmail.com.