Hill Center is proud to announce the launch of Our City. Our Music. Our Writers., a series of unique in-person events that will bring together local writers of noteworthy books across music genres. They will present their work—often with visuals and audio clips—converse with each other, respond to questions, and sign their books. Philip Kennicott, Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post Art and Architecture critic and Capitol Hill resident and Anne Midgette, formerly the Post’s classical-music critic, will present two books that explore music through personal and fictional narrative. Kennicott will discuss his book, Counterpoint: A Memoir of Bach and Mourning, and Midgette will discuss her forthcoming book, Escapement, an historical novel about Nanette Streicher, the woman who built pianos for Beethoven.

Upcoming bimonthly sessions will explore our city’s storied and diverse music history across genres that include jazz, gospel, bluegrass, blues, military bands, Go-Go, and Punk.

Philip Kennicott is the Pulitzer Prize-winning art and architecture critic of The Washington Post. He has been on staff at The Post since 1999, first as classical music critic, then as culture critic. In 2011, he combined art and architecture into a beat focused on visual culture and public space.

Anne Midgette is a writer and critic on music and opera, the visual arts, and more. A former contributor to the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, she was the chief classical music critic of the Washington Post for 12 years before leaving to focus on a long-planned book.

East City Bookshop will have books available for sale. A book signing will follow the conversation.