Speaking & Events with Howard Reich
Howard has spoken across the country and around the world about his film “For the Left Hand”; his book and film “Prisoner of Her Past”; his musical biographies “Jelly’s Blues” and “Van Cliburn”; his book “The Art of Inventing Hope: Intimate Conversations with Elie Wiesel”; and the subjects of genocide, the Holocaust and music. He has given commencement addresses at colleges, universities and high schools, where he also has led discussions on journalism and music. He is available for speaking engagements.
Upcoming Events
World premiere of ‘Kimiko’s Pearl Symphonic Suite’
8 p.m. EDT April 9, 2025; 7:30 p.m. EDT April 11, 2025
Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto, Canada
Past Events
‘Sweet Smell of Success’: WDCB Encore Film Series with Howard Reich
8 p.m. CDT Nov. 1, 2024
College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, Ill.
‘The Art of Music Criticism’ discussion
9 a.m. CDT Oct. 22, 2024
Northwestern University Bienen School of Music, Evanston, Ill.
‘Spotlight On: Orbert Davis’ interview and performance
7 p.m. CDT Oct. 9, 2024
Winter’s Jazz Club, Chicago, Ill.
Paul Marinaro film screening and interview
8 p.m. CDT Sept. 6, 2024
Studio5, Evanston, Ill.
Chicago Jazz Philharmonic: ‘Through Ella’s Eyes’
7 p.m. CDT Aug. 17, 2024
Logan Center for the Arts, Chicago, Ill.
Norman Malone at The Cliff Dwellers
5 p.m. CDT Aug. 13, 2024
The Cliff Dwellers, Chicago, Ill.
‘Spotlight On: Howard Levy’ interview and performance
7 p.m. CDT July 31, 2024
Winter’s Jazz Club, Chicago, Ill.
‘Prisoner of Her Past’ screening
7 p.m. CDT July 5, 2024
www.cherubs.medill.northwestern.edu
McCormick Foundation Center, Evanston, Ill.
‘Kimiko’s Pearl’ ballet world premiere
2:30 p.m. EDT June 23, 2024
FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
‘Kimiko’s Pearl’ ballet world premiere
7:30 p.m. EDT June 22, 2024
FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
‘Before It All Goes Dark’ Chicago premiere
3:00 p.m. CDT May 26, 2024
Chicago Opera Theater, Studebaker Theater, Chicago, Ill.
‘Before It All Goes Dark’ Chicago premiere
7:30 p.m. CDT May 25, 2024
Chicago Opera Theater, Studebaker Theater, Chicago, Ill.
‘Before It All Goes Dark’ San Francisco premiere
7:30 p.m. PDT May 22, 2024
Presidio Theatre, San Francisco, Calif.
A Preview of ‘Before It All Goes Dark’ on WFMT
6:00 p.m. CDT May 21, 2024
WFMT/98.7 FM, Chicago, Ill.
‘Before It All Goes Dark’ opera world premiere
4:30 p.m. PDT May 19, 2024
Benaroya Hall, Seattle, Wash.
‘The Art of Music Criticism’ discussion
9:00 a.m. CST May 14, 2024
Northwestern University Bienen School of Music, Evanston, Ill.
‘Spotlight On: Reginald Robinson’ interview and performance
7:00 p.m. CDT May 8, 2024
Winter’s Jazz Club, Chicago, Ill.
‘Prisoner of Her Past’: 14th annual broadcast
4:30 p.m. CDT May 5, 2024
WTTW-Ch. 11, Chicago, Ill.
Close-Up with ‘Before It All Goes Dark’
7:00 p.m. CDT May 4, 2024
Curtiss Hall, Fine Arts Building, Chicago, Ill.
‘The Art of Inventing Hope’ discussion
9:30 a.m. CDT April 14, 2024
Family School of Chicago/Old St. Patrick’s Church, Chicago, Ill.
‘Prisoner of Her Past’ film screening and discussion
7:00 p.m. CDT April 4, 2024
Congregation Beth Shalom, Columbia, Mo.
‘Prisoner of Her Past,’ ‘The Art of Inventing Hope’ book discussion
7:00 p.m. CDT April 3, 2024
Congregation Beth Shalom, Columbia, Mo.
‘The Art of Inventing Hope’: London book club discussion via Zoom
Noon CDT March 29, 2024
DOR–Romanian Diaspora, London, England
‘Spotlight On: Patricia Barber’ interview and performance
7:00 p.m. CDT March 13, 2024
Winter’s Jazz Club, Chicago, Ill.
‘The Art of Music Criticism’ discussion
9:00 a.m. CST Feb. 22, 2024
Northwestern University Bienen School of Music, Evanston, Ill.
‘J’Accuse!’ screening and interview
7:00 p.m. CST Jan. 31, 2024
Simon Wiesenthal Center/Museum of Tolerance with Wayfarer Theaters, Highland Park, Ill.
2023
The Light of Elie Wiesel During the Darkest of Times (luncheon/talk)
12:00 p.m. CST Dec. 1, 2023
www.firstfridayclubchicago.org
Union League Club Chicago, Ill.
Religious Studies: ‘Prisoner of Her Past’
6:15 p.m. EDT Oct. 25, 2023
Oakland University, Oakland, Mich.
Bienen Piano Studio: ‘For the Left Hand’
1:00 p.m. CDT Oct. 12, 2023
Galvin Recital Hall, Bienen School of Music, Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill.
‘For the Left Hand’
4:00 p.m. EDT Oct. 7, 2023
Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Documentary Series: ‘Prisoner of Her Past’
6:00 p.m. EDT Sept. 27, 2023
www.charlestonlibrarysociety.org
Charleston Library Society, Charleston, S.C.
Chicago Opera Theater: Howard Reich speaks with Jake Heggie, Gene Scheer
6:30 p.m. CDT May 27, 2023
Athenaeum Center, Chicago, IL
Chicago Opera Theater: Howard Reich speaks with Jake Heggie
2 p.m. CDT May 28, 2023
Athenaeum Center, Chicago, IL
Book launch: Howard Reich speaks with Henry Threadgill and Brent Hayes Edwards
2 p.m. CDT June 10, 2023
Corbett vs. Dempsey, Chicago, IL
‘The Art of Inventing Hope’: Howard Reich speaks with Robert Feder
10 a.m. CDT April 16, 2023
Congregation B’nai Tikvah, Deerfield, IL
‘Prisoner of Her Past’ 13th annual broadcast
2 p.m. CDT April 16, 2023
WTTW-Ch. 11/PBS Chicago
Highland Park High School Focus on the Arts
April 20, 2023 (open to Highland Park High School students only)
Highland Park High School, Highland Park, IL
Online Lunch and Learn: Music of Remembrance
Noon CDT April 4, 2023
Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, Skokie, IL
2022
“For the Left Hand” at San Francisco Conservatory of Music
7 p.m. PT Nov. 10, 2022
The Bowes Center, San Francisco, CA
Advocate for the Arts Awards Benefit
6:00 p.m. CDT Oct. 27, 2022
www.grantparkmusicfestival.com
Fairmont Chicago Hotel, Chicago, Ill.
“The Art of Inventing Hope”: A Conversation
7:00 p.m. EDT Oct. 25, 2022
Defiance College, Defiance, Ohio
Cinetopia presents “For the Left Hand”
7:30 p.m. EDT Oct. 14, 2022
Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Molloy University presents “For the Left Hand” and “Prisoner of Her Past”
9:45 a.m.-4 p.m. EDT Sept. 30, 2022
Madison Theatre, Rockville Centre, N.Y.
Chicago Sinfonietta and Chicago History Museum present
“For the Left Hand”
6 p.m. CDT Aug. 18, 2022
Chicago History Museum, Chicago, IL
“For the Left Hand” screening
6 p.m. CDT Aug. 2, 2022
Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, IL
“For the Left Hand”: Lincoln Park’s Secret Virtuoso
5 p.m. CDT June 14, 2022
DePaul University, Chicago, IL
“For the Left Hand”: Screening and discussion
6 p.m. EDT May 17, 2022
www.charlestonlibrarysociety.org
Charleston Library Society, Charleston, S.C.
Adrian College Commencement address
3 p.m. EDT May 1, 2022
Adrian College, Adrian, Mich.
“For the Left Hand”: Dinner, screening and discussion
5 p.m. EDT April 12, 2022
Adrian College, Adrian, Mich.
“Fire Shut Up in My Bones”: A conversation
8 p.m. CDT March 25, 2022
First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple, Chicago, Ill.
“A History of Jazz at Symphony Center”: A conversation
6 p.m. Feb. 15, 2022
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Salon Series, Chicago, Ill.
“For the Left Hand” screening
Noon CST Feb. 12, 2022
Purchase tickets
Gorton Community Center, Lake Forest, Ill.
“Kimiko’s Pearl”: Digital Short Premiere (virtual)
6 p.m. CST Feb. 5, 2022
Register here
Bravo Niagara! Festival of the Arts, Ontario, Canada
Live online book talk: “The Art of Inventing Hope”
6 p.m. CST Jan. 26, 2022
Simon Wiesenthal Center; The Breman Museum, Atlanta, Ga.
2021
“Prisoner of Her Past” online discussion
7 p.m. CST Nov. 8, 2021
Jewish Federation of Springfield, IL
“For the Left Hand” at St. Louis International Film Festival
7:30 p.m. CDT Nov. 5, 2021
St. Louis International Film Festival
“For the Left Hand” encore Chicago screening
5:45 p.m. CST Oct. 20, 2021
Chicago International Film Festival, Chicago, IL
“For the Left Hand” documentary premiere
6:15 p.m. EST Aug. 1, 2021
Woods Hole Film Festival, Woods Hole, Mass.
Hyde Park Jazz Festival honoree
Benefit concert livestream
7 p.m. CST July 13, 2021
Hyde Park Jazz Festival benefit concert
Holocaust Commemoration 2021
Via Zoom
6:45 p.m. CST April 11, 2021
Lincolnwood Jewish Congregation A.G. Beth Israel
A Remarkable Convergence: Moderated by Howard Reich
5:30 p.m. CST February 4, 2021
Via Zoom
Simon Wiesenthal Center Midwest Region
“For the Left Hand” at Samson Family Jewish Community Center
6:30 p.m. CST Dec. 15, 2021
Register here
Samson Family Jewish Community Center,
Milwaukee, WI
“For the Left Hand” Chicago encore broadcast
4 p.m. CST Nov. 7, 2021
WTTW-Channel 11, PBS
“For the Left Hand” WTTW Preview
and Community Conversation
6 p.m. CDT Oct. 27, 2021
WTTW-Channel 11, PBS
“For the Left Hand” Chicago premiere
Noon CST Oct. 17, 2021
Chicago International Film Festival, Chicago, IL
A Conversation With Howard Reich
Register here
5 p.m. CST May 11, 2021
Charleston County Public Library, Charleston, S.C.
“Prisoner of Her Past”
Holocaust Remembrance Day 11th annual broadcast
10 p.m. CST April 8, 2021
WTTW-Ch. 11, PBS Chicago
Author Howard Reich
7 p.m. EST January 3, 2021
Via Facebook live
Congregation Adath Jeshurun, Louisville, Kentucky
“For the Left Hand” at University of Chicago’s
Logan Center for the Arts
7 p.m. CST Nov. 19, 2021
Tickets here
University of Chicago’s Logan Center for the Arts
“For the Left Hand” Chicago broadcast premiere
9 p.m. CDT Nov. 5, 2021
WTTW-Channel 11, PBS
“For the Left Hand” Bay Area premiere
5:30 p.m. PST Oct. 23, 2021
United Nations Association Film Festival, Palo Alto, Calif.
“For the Left Hand” documentary screening
7 p.m. EST Aug. 12, 2021
The New Haven Documentary Film Festival, New Haven, Conn.
“The Art of Inventing Hope”
with Howard Reich
Register here
6 p.m. CST May 5, 2021
Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center, White Plains, N.Y.
“They Played for Their Lives” discussion:
Moderated by Howard Reich
6 p.m. CST March 30, 2021
Register here
Levin JCC, Durham, N.C.
2020
“The Art of Inventing Hope: Intimate Conversations
With Elie Wiesel,” by Howard Reich
7 p.m. December 2, 2020
Via Zoom
Zoom registration
www.bethambg.org; www.wiesenthal.com
Congregation Beth Am; Simon Wiesenthal Center
“The Art of Inventing Hope”
7 p.m. June 16, 2020
Streamed live on Facebook
Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center
Holocaust Families: What We Learned From Elie Wiesel
7 p.m. Central Standard Time, November 24, 2020
Via Zoom
Bravo Niagara! Festival of the Arts
“Sisterhood Daytime Series: Howard Reich”
12:30 p.m. Feb. 5, 2020
Wilmette, IL
Event details
Beth Hillel Bnai Emunah
“My Conversations With Elie Wiesel”
10 a.m. Jan. 26, 2020
Highland Park, IL
Event details
Makom Solel Lakeside
“The Art of Inventing Hope”
with Howard Reich
7 p.m. December 9, 2020
Via YouTube
YouTube registration
Westmont Public Library
An evening with Howard Reich
7 p.m. August 19, 2020
Via Zoom
Jewish Federation of Springfield, Illinois
“The Art of Inventing Hope”
7 p.m. April 27, 2020
Aspen Drive Library, Vernon Hills, IL
Postponed
Cook Memorial Public Library District
“A Conversation With Howard Reich”
7 p.m. March 4, 2020
Rochester, MI
Event details
Oakland University
2019
“Left-Handed Pianist”: Work-in-progress screening
4 p.m. Nov. 10, 2019
Lake Forest, IL
Event details
Gorton Community Center
“The Art of Inventing Hope”
Holocaust Education Week
Nov. 7, 2019
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Event details
Beth Torah Congregation, Toronto
“Prisoner of Her Past” and “The Art of Inventing Hope”
Film screening and book discussion
8 p.m. Sept. 21, 2019
Highland Park, IL
Event details
North Suburban Synagogue Beth El
“The Art of Inventing Hope”: Howard Reich
in conversation with Nancy Barnett
2 p.m. Aug. 11, 2019
Milwaukee, WI
Event details
Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center
Sunday Morning Seminar: Meet the Author
Skokie, IL
10 a.m. May 19, 2019
Temple Beth Israel
Author event: “The Art of Inventing Hope”
2 p.m. Dec. 15, 2019
Chicago, IL
Event details
Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership
“The Art of Inventing Hope”
10:30 a.m. Nov. 10, 2019
Munster, IN
Event details
Jewish Federation of Northwest Indiana
“Left-Handed Pianist”: Documentary-in-progress
7:30 p.m. Sept. 15, 2019
Muncie, IN
Event details
Ball State University
Howard Reich: Featured speaker,
Bienen School of Music convocation
Evanston, IL
9 a.m. June 22, 2019
Event details
Northwestern University
The Art of Inventing Hope with Howard Reich
Chicago, IL
11:45 a.m. May 16, 2019
Event Tickets – SOLD OUT
The Standard Club
“Caffeine for the Brain: The Art of Inventing Hope”
10:45 a.m. Nov. 17, 2019
Wilmette, IL
Event details
Congregation Sukkat Shalom
“The Art of Inventing Hope”
Babi Yar Commemoration 2019
1:30 p.m. Oct. 6, 2019
Skokie, IL
Event details
Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center
Downtown Lunch and Learn
Guest speaker: Howard Reich
12-2 p.m. Aug. 15, 2019
The Standard Club, Chicago, IL
Event details
Congregation Sukkat Shalom
The Art of Inventing Hope:
Howard Reich in Conversation with Daniel Greene
Chicago, IL
4 p.m. June 9, 2019
Event Details
Printers Row Lit Fest
Howard Reich in Conversation with Regine Schlesinger
Skokie, IL
6:30 p.m. May 9, 2019
Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center
