El Paso music institutions unite to honor Aug. 3 Walmart shooting victims

EL PASO, Texas -- El Paso's top music institutions are coming together to commission a piece of music to honor the victims of the Aug. 3 Walmart mass shooting.

The El Paso Symphony Orchestra, El Paso Pro-Musica, El Paso Opera, and UTEP's Department of Music are working together for the first time to create "Communities of Peace." The group was formed back in September of last year in response to the shooting.

"As musicians, we wanted to create a musical memorial," said Steve Wilson, chair of UTEP's Department of Music. "We wanted something that could be played one year from now, five years from now, 100 years from now," Wilson said.

The piece, titled "El Paso Requiem" will be composed by Jorge Martin, a Cuban-American composer. It will be translated to english and spanish. It will premiere in September during the El Paso Symphony Orchestra's 90th season opening concert featuring a chorus from UTEP and soloists from El Paso Opera.

Communities of Peace is working with the El Paso Community Foundation to raise funds for the project, hoping to raise $15,000.

To be a part of the project, click here to donate.