We’re closed, but we’re going “live” as more programs move online

We’re out, but we’re not down. While Hill Center’s doors are physically closed, we are still welcoming the community, virtually, to the kind of “live” events so many of us have missed recently.

Our first live, interactive conversation, via the video conferencing platform Zoom, was between Karen Sherman, author of “Brick by Brick – Building Hope and Opportunity for Women Survivors Everywhere” (January 2020, Rowman & Littlefield) and Barbara Klein, a newscast anchor at NPR. 

Karen Sherman has spent her life advocating for women in war-torn and transitional countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Congo, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Sudan, Kosovo, and the former Soviet Union. Throughout her 30-year career in global development, Sherman has met and interviewed thousands of women. Their remarkable stories of strength, courage, resilience, and resourcefulness, as well as a more personal story, are the basis of her memoir, “Brick by Brick.”

With questions from Klein and the online audience, Sherman talked about her conviction that championing women’s education and economic participation can be transformative for them, their families and their communities. You can view the entire conversation here.

Copies of Sherman’s book are available for purchase from East City Bookshop here. Books are currently being shipped or are available for pick up.

Miss live music? We’ve got you covered.

Following up on its hugely successful December performance of seasonal choral music, Hill Center’s new Perfect Octave chamber music series will offer its second concert, The Special Je Ne Sai Quoi of “French” Piano Music, July 19. You can stream this live performance to your home via YouTube. Join Perfect Octave’s curator Andrew Welch for an hour-long piano recital exploring French sounds in music. Works will include Bach’s final French Suite in E major, Claude Debussy’s Suite Bergamasque (which includes the celebrated and ubiquitous Claire de Lune,) Ottorino Respighi’s Tre Preludi sopra melodie Gregoriane, as well as shorter works by three composers of diverse nationalities.

The recital will be streamed on YouTube Live, and the audience will have the opportunity to submit questions during the performance, which Andrew will then discuss afterwards with Hill Center’s Charlotte Harper, director of programming.

Welch is a pianist, conductor and composer in Washington, DC. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland, where he was recognized with the Robert McCoy award in collaborative piano, and American University, where he earned the university’s prestigious Evelyn Swarthout Hayes Award.

If you’ve been longing to take one of Hill Center’s popular cooking classes, long no more. In July and August chef Wendi James will teach the essentials of knife skills in three live Zoom classes. You have the opportunity to learn how to best cut vegetables, whole chicken and whole fish – all from the comfort of your own kitchen.

Bill Press’ Talk of the Hill has always been a centerpiece of Hill Center programming. On July 15, Press will interview former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. RSVP here to receive the link on July 15 to this prerecorded conversation. East City Bookshop has her latest book “Hell and Other Destinations: A 21st Century Memoir” available for purchase here.

More live (sometimes pre-recorded) events are in the planning stages. While the building is temporarily closed, we want to continue to bring you the quality programming you’ve come to expect from Hill Center. There are unexpected benefits to attending events by Zoom. It’s just you and the speaker, teacher or performer. You can see and hear perfectly and sit in whatever chair you like.

And if you like what you see, please consider donating to support Hill Center programs like these. You can add a donation when you get your ticket at checkout or donate on our website. We greatly appreciate your support.