Events › I’m With the Banned - A Book Sanctuary Live Concert

Join us at the High Meadows Branch Library for an afternoon of live music performances from some of Houston’s best, as we celebrate Banned Books Week with our event, "I'm with the Banned"! This event honors the spirit of free speech and the importance of access to information through a thoughtfully curated musical program. Join us for a powerful tribute to the resilience of knowledge and the enduring fight against censorship.

Performances:

BANNED BOOKS: Apollo Chamber Players and HCPL present a musical commentary on the “reasoning” behind book censorship and control, with nods to notable books that have been banned historically, including Catcher in the Rye, Fahrenheit 451, Slaughterhouse-Five, and Huckleberry Finn. Houston-based composer Mark Buller joins Apollo for a program all-too resonant with our social and political moment.

Dacamera Young Artist Isaac Foreman celebrates Jewish Italian composer Mario Castelnuovo Tedesco, whose music was banned by Mussolini’s antisemitic laws. These rarely played selections for cello/piano will be interwoven with images and video clips, taken from a pre-recorded video interview between Mr. Foreman and Diana Castelnuovo Tedesco (granddaughter and biographer of the composer). The program will tell the story of Mario's artistic persecution in Italy, subsequent immigration to the US, and continued struggles as an artist separated from his homeland.

The Graeme Francis Trio presents "Pop Gets Jazzed," a multimedia experience featuring interactive discussions and exciting live performances of popular music drawn from the early 1900’s to the present day. Musical selections that reflect popular music’s gradual shift from early jazz, to rock and roll, to synth-pop, to R&B and hip hop will guide audience members through a fun, relaxed learning atmosphere that encourages participants of all ages to explore the many similarities between these musical genres. Presented in partnership with DACAMERA.

Plus special guests from SEAT (Students Engaged in Advancing Texas), readings from library staff & community members, and more. Light refreshments will be served.

Can't make it in person? Join us online at https://www.facebook.com/share/71Xx4VX4n22VEMhZ/