Catalina Maria Johnson
Photo by Diana Solis
Catalina Maria Johnson, Ph.D., is a music journalist passionate about sharing Latinx culture, history, and influence through music.
She is an enthusiastic and creative speaker who has been a speaker and panelist for programs at universities, libraries, and schools for at least 15 years. Her presentations address language, music, cultural studies, history, Latinx history and culture, and similar topics.
Available
The Music Tells Our Stories: Latines in Illinois and the USA
Available in English and Spanish
This program focuses on a broad overview of milestones from the last several centuries years of music in the Latine U.S. as a way of understanding the history, roots, and concerns of Latines in this land, with a special emphasis on Latine populations that have profoundly marked the state of Illinois’ culture and music.
The presentation, paired with slides and musical samples, is lively and focused on participation, discussion, and exploration of complex topics through musical enjoyment!
Audience Recommendations
This presentation may be of particular interest to those with a passion for music and history.
Program Logistics
The presentation takes approximately 45 minutes, with extra time at the end for Q&A, making it approximately one hour. The presentation is offered in Spanish and/or English as needed.1
En Español
La música se puede considerar y “leer” como una manera de compartir las raíces, los valores culturales y la historia de los pueblos. Numerosos géneros musicales latines y latinoamericanos comparten nuestras preocupaciones a lo largo de los años —desde canciones que documentan la vida cotidiana hasta melodías de celebración, música de protesta y más, la música es cronista de las historias de nuestras vidas.
A través de nuestra música, esta presentación multimedia ofrece un panorama general de los hitos de los últimos siglos de nuestro país y algunos de los momentos decisivos que han moldeado la presencia latina en Illinois y Estados Unidos. Nuestra conversación, acompañada de diapositivas y muestras musicales, será amena y animada y se centrará en la participación, la discusión y la exploración de temas complejos a través del disfrute musical.
Recomendaciones de la audiencia
Esta presentación puede ser de especial interés para aquellos apasionados por la música y la historia.
Logística del programa
La presentación dura aproximadamente 45 minutos, con tiempo extra para preguntas y respuestas al final, lo que la convierte en un hora aproximadamente.
Bio
Based in Chicago, IL
Catalina Maria Johnson, Ph.D., is a Chicago-based bilingual music journalist, broadcaster, and cultural curator whose work connects continents, genres, and generations. She is the host and producer of Beat Latino, a syndicated radio show that airs on Vocalo (Chicago Public Media) and other US cities.
Catalina’s work celebrates in particular the breadth of Latine and global sounds—from traditional roots to cutting-edge electronic music. A regular contributor to NPR, Songlines, DownBeat and other publications, Catalina combines academic rigor with storytelling flair to illuminate how music connects communities and preserves cultural memory. Her journalism, writing, radio and public lectures focus in particular on the intersections of migration, identity, and art, so as to reveal the forgotten and overlooked histories behind the music.
Learn More and Follow Catalina
Book this Road Scholar
Follow the steps below to book a presentation.
- Contact Catalina to schedule a date and time via email at catalinamariamusic@gmail.com.
- Once you and Catalina have agreed upon a date and time, complete the online Road Scholars Host Organization application.
Contact Us
Nicole Rodriguez
Senior Manager of Community Conversations
speakers@ilhumanities.org
(312) 374-1558
Contact
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