Event Program
MAGGIE ROGERS TALKS WITH QUESTLOVE AND PERFORMS LIVE, PLUS A STORY FROM HUA HSU
THE NEW YORKER LIVE AT SYMPHONY SPACE
Wednesday, September 7th, at 8 P.M.
A Story from Hua Hsu
Hua Hsu will tell a story adapted from his forthcoming memoir, “Stay True”
(on sale September 27th), a moving meditation on friendship, grief, the search for
the self, and the solace that can be found through art.
Learn more and pre-order a copy of “Stay True.”
A Conversation with Maggie Rogers, Ahmir (Questlove) Thompson,
and Kelefa Sanneh
The acclaimed musicians sit down with the New Yorker staff writer for a
free-ranging discussion of their music and greatest influences, as well as Rogers’s
recent studies at Harvard Divinity School and Questlove’s career with the Roots.
A Brief Period for Audience Questions
With the health and safety of our artists, audience, and staff in mind, we will not be
taking live questions at this event. If you would like to ask the participants a question,
please do so by texting (304) 715-2537.
A Performance by Maggie Rogers
A trio of songs from her recently released sophomore album, “Surrender.”
THE ARTISTS
Maggie Rogers
Maggie Rogers is a songwriter, producer, and performer. She graduated from New York University’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, where she took a course co-taught by Questlove, and in 2019 received a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist after the release of her début album, “Heard It in a Past Life.” In 2020, she enrolled at Harvard Divinity School, where she received a master’s degree in religion and public life. Likened by the New Yorker pop critic Amanda Petrusich to both Joni Mitchell and Smokey Robinson, Rogers released her sophomore album, “Surrender,” in July.
Maggie Rogers is a songwriter, producer, and performer. She graduated from New York University’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, where she took a course co-taught by Questlove, and in 2019 received a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist after the release of her début album, “Heard It in a Past Life.” In 2020, she enrolled at Harvard Divinity School, where she received a master’s degree in religion and public life. Likened by the New Yorker pop critic Amanda Petrusich to both Joni Mitchell and Smokey Robinson, Rogers released her sophomore album, “Surrender,” in July.
Ahmir (Questlove) Thompson
Ahmir (Questlove) Thompson is a musician, d.j., producer, author, and filmmaker. In 1987, he and Tariq (Black Thought) Trotter co-founded the influential hip-hop group the Roots, with which he continues to perform. He is also the music director for “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” where Roots members make up the house band. Questlove has received six Grammy Awards and won the 2022 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for “Summer of Soul,” about Black music and the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. Questlove has published books including “Mo’ Meta Blues,” “Creative Quest,” and, most recently, “Music Is History.” This year, he was named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People.
Ahmir (Questlove) Thompson is a musician, d.j., producer, author, and filmmaker. In 1987, he and Tariq (Black Thought) Trotter co-founded the influential hip-hop group the Roots, with which he continues to perform. He is also the music director for “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” where Roots members make up the house band. Questlove has received six Grammy Awards and won the 2022 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for “Summer of Soul,” about Black music and the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. Questlove has published books including “Mo’ Meta Blues,” “Creative Quest,” and, most recently, “Music Is History.” This year, he was named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People.
Kelefa Sanneh
Kelefa Sanneh has contributed to The New Yorker since 2001 and has been a staff writer since 2008. He is also a contributor to “CBS Sunday Morning.” He came to the magazine from the New York Times, where he had been the pop-music critic since 2002. Previously, he was the deputy editor of Transition, a journal of race and culture based at Harvard’s W. E. B. Du Bois Research Institute. Last year, he published his first book, “Major Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres,” to critical acclaim.
Kelefa Sanneh has contributed to The New Yorker since 2001 and has been a staff writer since 2008. He is also a contributor to “CBS Sunday Morning.” He came to the magazine from the New York Times, where he had been the pop-music critic since 2002. Previously, he was the deputy editor of Transition, a journal of race and culture based at Harvard’s W. E. B. Du Bois Research Institute. Last year, he published his first book, “Major Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres,” to critical acclaim.
Hua Hsu
Hua Hsu has been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 2017. He teaches at Bard College. He is the author of “A Floating Chinaman: Fantasy and Failure Across the Pacific” and will release a memoir, “Stay True,” in September.
Hua Hsu has been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 2017. He teaches at Bard College. He is the author of “A Floating Chinaman: Fantasy and Failure Across the Pacific” and will release a memoir, “Stay True,” in September.
MORE INFORMATION
This program is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Howard Gilman Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, the Blanchette Hooker Rockefeller Fund, The Achelis and Bodman Foundation, the Charina Endowment Fund, The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, the Michael Tuch Foundation, the Vidda Foundation, and The Grodzins Fund.
This program is also made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.
Symphony Space thanks our generous supporters, including our Board of Directors, Producers Circle, and members, who make our programs possible with their annual support.
Flowers courtesy of PlantShed
Kathy Landau Executive Director
Peg Wreen Managing Director
Isaiah Sheffer*
Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director (1978-1988)
Artistic Director (1988-2010)
Founding Artistic Director (2010-2012)
Allan Miller
Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director (1978-1988)
Jennifer Brennan Director of Literary Programs
Drew Richardson Lead Producer of Literary Programs
Vivienne Woodward Producer of Literary Programs
Mary Shimkin Director of Broadcast & Literary Initiatives
Matthew Love Consultant for Literary Programs
Magdalene Wrobleski Literary Assistant
Mollie Gordon Program Assistant
Madeleine Hearn Literary Intern
Gabriela Parra Lambis Literary Intern
*in memoriam
David Remnick Editor, The New Yorker
Patrick Garrigan SVP, Global Head of Events
Eric Gillin Chief Business Officer
Natalie Raabe Vice President, Communications
David Ohana Director of Programming
The New Yorker Live
The New Yorker Live is an event series for subscribers to The New Yorker featuring discussions with some of today’s most influential figures in culture and politics. Previous participants include, among others, the chef David Chang, the comedians Tig Notaro and Jason Sudeikis, the poet Amanda Gorman, the author Jennifer Egan, the playwright Jeremy O. Harris, and the musician, composer, and producer David Byrne.
Feature illustration by João Fazenda
Maggie Rogers photograph by Holden Jaffe
Questlove photograph by Daniel Dorsa
Kelefa Sanneh photograph by Jason Nocito
Hua Hsu photograph by Devlin Claro
