Presented by the USC Thornton School of Music as part of Nina Simone: Beyond Category, TO BE FREEis a one-night-only concert celebrating Nina Simone’s classical training and her genre-defying musical legacy. From her grounding in Bach and Czerny to her fearless fusion of classical music with blues, jazz, gospel, and song, Simone forged a singular artistic voice that spoke truth Presented by the USC Thornton School of Music as part of Nina Simone: Beyond Category, TO BE FREEis a one-night-only concert celebrating Nina Simone’s classical training and her genre-defying musical legacy. From her grounding in Bach and Czerny to her fearless fusion of classical music with blues, jazz, gospel, and song, Simone forged a singular artistic voice that spoke truth to power and continues to resonate today.
Performed by USC Thornton students, faculty, alumni, and special guests, the concert offers a powerful reimagining of Simone’s music in the spirit of artistic freedom, cultural courage, and life lived beyond category. Curated by Lara Downes, Jayson Jackson, and Jason King, the program is presented in collaboration with USC Visions & Voices and the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective during Grammy Week.
Featured performers include Alice Smith, Rufus Wainwright, Nikka Costa, Mykal Kilgore, Jimetta Rose, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Derrick Lawrence, Gabby Samone, Ron McCurdy, Lara Downes, V.C.R., and more, with members of the USC Thornton Symphony conducted by Carl St. Clair and Todd Simon serving as Musical Director.
This concert is preceded by How Nina Simone Changed the World, a January 23 conversation with Pulitzer Prize–winning writer Salamishah Tillet.

Free/Please RSVP for tickets.

Info: https://www.blackculturalevents.com/city/los-angeles-so-cal/event/to-be-free-the-revolutionary-music-of-nina-simone/ Read More