Cellist Janet Horvath will read from her sweeping history of three generations darkened by the long shadow of the Holocaust, The Cello Still Sings – A Generational Story of the Holocaust and of the Transformative Power of Music. The Cello Still Sings received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews and was selected one of the 100 Best Indie Books of 2023. The inspiration for the book came when an innocent question about music lead to the revelation that the author’s father played 200 morale-building concerts in the displaced persons camps of Bavaria after World War II, two of which were with Maestro Leonard Bernstein. It is the clue that leads to unraveling the past. This true story is a vivid and fast-passed recounting of the decades of silence and deeply hidden secrets, the consequences of trauma, and the quest for truth through the spiritual sustenance and power of music. Her work has been described by reviewers as “lyrical,” “gripping,” “entertaining,” and “a heartfelt story vividly and powerfully told.”

Janet Horvath is a lifelong performing classical musician, soloist, speaker, educator, and author. The Minnesota Orchestra’s associate principal cello from 1980 to 2012, she has appeared as soloist with orchestra, and in recital and chamber music throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. She has appeared on (inter)national radio and television, on CBC, BBC, and NPR radio stations, and on PBS television. A contributing writer for the online classical music e-magazine Interlude.HK, she has penned over 350 feature articles about music and musicians. Recent essays have appeared in national publications, including The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Minneapolis Star Tribune and international music publications Musical America, Chamber Music America, Strings Magazine, The Brass Herald and Strad Magazine. The author of the award-winning book Playing (Less) Hurt-an Injury Prevention Guide for Musicians, she has worked with instrumentalists to establish a holistic approach to music making. Horvath’s writing aims to counteract the consequences of intolerance by stimulating dialogue about inequality and the ramifications of racism. Ms. Horvath earned her master’s degree in music performance from Indiana University and completed her MFA in creative writing at Hamline University in St. Paul, MN.