Against her grandmother’s wishes, award-winning author Silvia Foti made a promise to her mother on her deathbed to write a book about Jonas Noreika, her grandfather, a famous WWII hero. She had no idea that her seemingly simple promise would uncover dark family secrets. Foti’s discoveries would bring her to a personal crisis, challenge her Catholic faith, unearth Holocaust denial, and expose an official cover-up by the Lithuanian government.

Foti’s twenty-year investigation resulted in her latest book, The Nazi’s Granddaughter: How I Discovered My Grandfather Was a War Criminal, which reshaped her family and exposed an official cover-up by the Lithuanian government in the process. Foti’s discovery has undone a national narrative in Lithuania which converted Holocaust villains like Silvia’s grandfather into war heroes.

Be sure to join us in conversation with Silvia Foti as she shares how writing this book shaped her identity, re-shaped her family’s past, and exposed European countries’ denial of their role in the Holocaust.

ON-SITE: Non-Members: Museum Admission; Members: Free

VIRTUAL: Non-Members: $5.00; Members: Free

When you visit the Museum, be sure to explore our special exhibition, Shanghai: Safe Haven During the Holocaust. The exhibit sheds light on a lesser-known moment in Holocaust history: European Jews who had been shut out of country after country while trying to escape Nazi persecution found a beacon of hope in an unlikely place: Shanghai, China. In 1946, American photojournalist Arthur Rothstein documented the lives of Jewish refugees who now called Shanghai’s Hongkew District "home."

Shanghai features Rothstein’s photographs and highlights artifacts from local Holocaust Survivors in a moving tribute to human endurance, capturing both the enormous hardship and fierce perseverance of refugees and their families as they managed to not only survive but thrive while living in the Shanghai ghetto.

Prefer to stay home? Public virtual exhibition tours are available! The virtual tour includes a video presentation with Chief Curator of Collections and Exhibitions, Arielle Weininger, and a live Q&A moderated by Museum personnel.

Members: Free; Non-members: $10

Reservations are required. Members must sign in to take advantage of their member discount.

December 12, 2:00 pm (CST): Register for the tour

Music Theory With Kenny Keys
The African American Museum of the Performing Arts

Kenny Keys is a keyboardist, pianist, composer, producer, session musician and teacher of music. He has collaborated and played with an array of esteemed musicians, including: the late queen of soul Aretha Franklin, Steve Arrington & Slave, Buddy Guy, Donell Jones, Jon B, Skyzoo, and others. This class will cover four areas: History/Fundamentals, Harmonic Expansions, Contextual Listening, and Harmonic Dictation.

Monday, December 13 | 6:00 - 7:30 pm (CST) via Zoom
Part 1: All Music Is Soul Music

• How music genres relate to each other
• How music genres intersect each other
• Cultural music dynamics (Asian, African, Indian)
• Music Entrepreneurship (music therapy, health and wellness)

Monday, January 3 | 6:00 - 7:30 pm (CST) via Zoom
Part 2: Arrangements in Music. Why?

• Different arrangements of the same songs
• Simple & Complex song structure
• Traditional Rock
• Jazz
• R&B
• Hip Hop

Monday, January 10 | 6:00 - 7:30 pm (CST) via Zoom
Part 3: Can You Dig It? The Art of Sound Searching

• Getting familiar with musical personnel
• Liner notes
• Digital music platform credits
• Writer, Composer and Musician relationships

Admission: $500 for the series / $175 per class

Register online for classes