To Be Free: The Revolutionary Music of Nina Simone

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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 , USC Thornton School of Music Dean , and , 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.

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Related Events:
Friday, January 23, 2026: How Nina Simone Changed the World
Tuesday, January 27, 2026: To Be Free – The Revolutionary Music of Nina Simone (Night Two)

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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