AVERY YOUNG

Chicago Poet Laureate avery r. young is an interdisciplinary artist and teaching artist who has been an Arts and Public Life Artist-in-Residence at the University of Chicago, a 3Arts Awardee, and a Cave Canem fellow. In the foreword of his most recent book neckbone: visual verses (Northwestern University Press), Theaster Gates called him “one of our greatest living street poets” and “one of the most important thinkers on the Black experience.” Black Grooves referred to young’s most recent album tubman (FPE Records) as “brilliant” and “supremely funky.” young’s poems and essays have been published in Cecil McDonald's In The Company of Black, The BreakBeat Poets, The Golden Shovel Anthology: New Poems Honoring Gwendolyn Brooks, AIMPrint, and other anthologies. His album booker t. soltreyne: a race rekkid engages matters of race, gender, and sexuality in America during the Obama Era. young’s work in performance, visual text, and sound design has been featured in several exhibitions and theater festivals–notably The Hip Hop Theatre Festival, The Museum of Contemporary Art, and the American Jazz Museum. He is the featured vocalist on flutist Nicole Mitchell’s Mandorla Awakening (FPE Records), one of the directors of The Floating Museum, and a co-mentor for Rebirth Youth Poetry Ensemble. He performs with his band, de deacon board.

D-COMPOSED

D-Composed is a Chicago-based Black chamber music collective that celebrates Black culture and creativity through the music of Black composers.

We aim to make classical music experiences inclusive and reflective of the Black experience by intentionally creating experiences that meet our community where they are.

D–COMPOSED /DEE-KUHM-POHZD/ – ADVERB - Our creative process involves breaking down preconceived notions, barriers, and opinions of what people think classical music should be to re-writing our narrative to reflect what the classical world could be.

Centenary Anniversary of James Baldwin’s Birth (born August 2, 1924)

This program is a special collaboration with Hyde Park Art Center to honor the 100th anniversary of author James Baldwin’s birth. Baldwin was deeply connected to jazz and Black music. This anniversary is concurrent with Hyde Park Art Center’s exhibition by Chicago artist, Robert Earl Paige titled “The United Colors of Robert Earl Paige”.