FREE! To Be Free: The Revolutionary Music of Nina Simone Concert #2
Details
Free Concert that is part of a 3-evening event called "Nina Simone, Beyond Category", which includes a discussion on Jan. 23 and a 2-evening concert Jan. 26 & 27 (each evening is posted as a separate event.)
Date: Jan 27 at 7:30pm PST
Venue: Bovard Auditorium
3551 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, CA 90089
Free, but you must RSVP. The link to RSVP will be posted here when it's made available.
A two-night concert reimagining Simone's catalog—presented as part of USC Thornton’s "Nina Simone: Beyond Category" series.
### Admission
Admission is free. Help us continue to offer free events by making a tax-deductible donation at https://visionsandvoices.usc.edu/support.
### Description
Performed by USC Thornton School of Music students, faculty, alumni, and special guests, this unique concert event, taking place over the course of two evenings, celebrates Nina Simone’s classical training and its profound influence on her expansive, genre-defying musical vision, her creative genius, and her lifelong pursuit of personal, artistic, and collective freedom.
Simone’s singular musical voice unfolded through her original compositions and powerful re-imaginings of others’ work. Known for fusing styles as varied as blues, jazz, gospel, and classical—especially her early grounding in composers like Bach and Czerny—Simone created music that transcended genre in order to speak truth to power. Despite facing structural barriers and systemic limitations throughout her career, she courageously addressed civil and human rights struggles head-on, infused her art with a deep global consciousness, and offered searing reflections on the complexities of Black existence in America. Simone persisted in crafting a liberated artistic identity that has inspired generations and served as a wellspring.
Co-curated and hosted by celebrated pianist Lara Downes, USC Thornton School of Music Dean Jason King, and Jayson Jackson, Oscar-nominated co-producer of What Happened, Miss Simone?, these concerts offer a powerful reimagining of Simone’s catalog—an offering in the spirit of her liberation, transformation, and artistic life lived “beyond category.” Simone simultaneously stands as an important artistic muse for Lara Downes’ national initiative, The Declaration Project, an invitation across the nation for Americans of all ages and backgrounds to reflect on core concepts of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence draws near on July 4, 2026.
Click here to learn more.
Related Events:
Friday, January 23, 2026: How Nina Simone Changed the World INFO
Tuesday, January 27, 2026: To Be Free – The Revolutionary Music of Nina Simone (Night Two) INFO
Presented by USC Visions and Voices and the USC Thornton School of Music in collaboration with the Recording Academy Black Music Collective.
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