Register 22 Seats Remaining

An Evening with author and musician, Brendan Slocumb

and "The Dark Maestro"

Mr. Slocumb will be here to discuss his newest book, offer a Q&A, and a book signing!

Registration Required

*This is a hybrid program and will also be streamed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8AggZT2-1k *

Join us for an evening with author, educator, and musician, Brendan Slocumb. Mr. Slocumb will present, offer a Q&A, as well as a book signing. His books will be for sale at this event. 

"Curtis Wilson is a cello prodigy, growing up in the Southeast D.C. projects with a drug dealer for a father. But through determination and talent, and the loving support of his father’s girlfriend Larissa, Curtis claws his way out of his challenging circumstances and rises to unimagined heights in the classical music world—even soloing with the New York Philharmonic.

And then, suddenly, his life disintegrates. His father, Zippy, turns state evidence, implicating his old bosses to the FBI. Now the family—Curtis included—must enter the witness protection program if they want to survive. This means Curtis must give up the very thing he loves most: sharing his extraordinary musical talents with the world. When Zippy’s bosses prove too elusive for law enforcement to convict them, Curtis, Zippy, and Larissa realize that their only chance of survival is to take on the cartel themselves.

A propulsive and moving story about sacrifice, loyalty, and the indomitable human spirit, The Dark Maestro is Slocumb at the height of his powers." -Publisher's description

About the Author

"Brendan Nicholaus Slocumb was raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a degree in music education, concentrations on Violin and Viola. For the past two decades, he has been a public and private school music educator from kindergarten through twelfth grade, teaching general music, orchestra and guitar ensembles. His students were often chosen for district and regional orchestras. In 2005, Brendan was named Teacher of the Year for Robert E. Lee High School; he has been named to Who’s Who of American teachers, and is a Nobel Teacher of distinction. Brendan also serves as an educational consultant for the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

Music has always played a major part of Brendan’s life. He believes that it’s a life-saving force, and a gift we should always offer our children. When he was nine, he started playing violin through a public school music program. Friends he grew up with are today sitting in jail; when they were out running the streets, he was in rehearsals. When they were breaking into people’s houses, he was practicing Dvorak and Mozart. His violin opened the door to opportunity, and he ran through it. Since then, Brendan has performed with the Washington Metropolitan Symphony, the McLean Symphony, the Prince George’s Philharmonic, and the Alexandria Symphony. He has served as the concertmaster for the NOVA-Annandale Symphony Orchestra and regularly performs chamber music with members of the Alexandria Chamber Music Society. He maintains a private music studio teaching lessons to students on violin, guitar and piano. Brendan believes that everyone can learn to appreciate and love music, and that it can be a new way of communicating, building bonds, and connecting with people who may look, sound, or speak differently.

In 2022, Brendan published his first novel, The Violin Conspiracy (Anchor Books), a GMA Book Club Pick, about a young man who discovers that his family’s old violin is a Stradivarius, which launches him into classical music stardom. On the eve of the biggest music competition in the world, someone steals the violin and he must get it back. In 2023, he published his second novel, Symphony of Secrets (Anchor Books), about a music historian who discovers that the world’s greatest composer may have stolen the music from a neurodivergent Black woman – and the powers-that-be will do anything to silence the historian. Brendan’s third book is The Dark Maestro (May 2025) about a young Black musical virtuoso at the peak of his career who’s forced into hiding when his family runs afoul of a ruthless criminal organization—until he fights back, using music to bring his enemies to justice," -From Author's Unbound.

Event Contact: Rachael Wiegmann or Jacob Lambert

Location Details: Austin/Sugarloaf/West & Long/Gourdneck rooms are located on the lower level of the library. 

Accommodations

All participants are welcome. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact us at rwiegmann@portagelibrary.info or jlambert@portagelibrary.info in advance of your visit.

Upcoming Events