Brother, Because of You
On May 16, 2025, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Tampa Bay presented a stirring and heartfelt performance of “Brother, Because of You” by legendary Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz, as part of their moving and multifaceted concert “Tyler’s Suite / I Love the 90’s”, held at Allendale United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, Florida. This performance formed part of Tyler’s Suite, a powerful and collaborative choral work dedicated to honoring the life and legacy of Tyler Clementi, whose death in 2010 awakened a national conversation about cyberbullying, LGBTQ+ youth, and the urgent need for compassion and inclusion.
Composed by Stephen Schwartz—known for iconic musicals such as Wicked, Pippin, and Godspell—“Brother, Because of You” offers a deeply personal and healing perspective: that of Tyler’s older brother, James Clementi. Through Schwartz’s lyrical sensitivity and musical depth, the piece becomes a song of reflection, grief, transformation, and ultimately, gratitude. Rather than focusing solely on loss, it explores how Tyler’s life—and death—profoundly reshaped the lives of those who loved him. It is both an elegy and a tribute, expressing a brother’s evolving understanding of love, identity, and courage.
The solo was movingly shared by Mark Hamilton and Gabriel Irizzary, whose duet brought the emotional complexity of the song vividly to life. Their voices—at times harmonious, at times contrasting—reflected the journey of grief and growth, embodying both the weight of sorrow and the light of remembrance. Their performance captured the honesty and rawness of a sibling relationship changed by tragedy, yet strengthened by resilience and reflection.
On violin, KaleyAnna Raabe offered an achingly beautiful layer of emotion. Her playing delicately underscored the vocal lines with a sense of memory and longing, evoking Tyler’s own love for the instrument while providing a connective musical thread that tied the suite’s themes together. At the piano, Kevin Wu provided his signature sensitivity and strength, grounding the piece with a sense of quiet determination and deep emotional insight.
The performance took place in the inclusive sanctuary of Allendale United Methodist Church, a spiritual home known for its longstanding commitment to social justice and LGBTQ+ affirmation. In this sacred and supportive space, the song resonated as both a memorial and a call to action—a reminder of the enduring impact one life can have on another, and the power of music to bridge heartbreak and healing.
Within the broader arc of the concert—which paired the poignant narratives of Tyler’s Suite with the exuberant celebration of LGBTQ+ culture in the 1990s—“Brother, Because of You” served as a moment of introspection and connection. It reminded the audience that while the past cannot be rewritten, it can inspire love, growth, and advocacy for a more compassionate future.