Announcing Requiem for a Lost Generation

I’ve been working on something very close to my heart, and I’m finally ready to share it more publicly.

Requiem for a Lost Generation is my first large-scale musical composition. A choral requiem honoring those we lost during the AIDS crisis. As a singer, I’ve always been drawn to the communal power of great choral works. As someone shaped by queer history, community organizing, and lived experience, I also feel a responsibility to remember, educate, and heal where I can.

Over time, I’ve felt there is a growing emotional disconnect from the realities of the AIDS crisis. How truly recent it was, how much loss it carried, and how many of the protections our community relies on are still fragile. Yet, we have so much to celebrate. We have come so far. Remembrance is a powerful form of celebration. This piece exists to remember those we lost, to tell that story honestly, and to create a shared space for grief, remembrance, and hope.

The work is structured using the traditional Latin Requiem Mass. It is intentionally reclaiming a form of sacred ritual and fellowship that was so often denied to queer people during the height of the crisis. The piece is fully composed, has had an initial sing-through with volunteer singers (thank you again so much!), and is now entering a careful revision phase as I work toward a premiere and recording.

I’m beginning to build a mailing list to share updates as the project moves forward, including plans for a future Kickstarter to help bring this requiem fully into the world. If this resonates with you, I’d be honored to have you follow along or share it with others who might feel connected to this work.

Learn more about Requiem for a Lost Generation at www.djrodriguezmusic.com or join the mailing list directly at https://bit.ly/djrodriguezmusic

Thank you for listening, remembering, and helping carry these stories forward.