City of Asylum
Giving Voice.
Don't miss this edition of City of Asylum’s On Topic series where Diana Kapp discusses her upcoming book, which publishes on September 8, 2026. Diana will be joined in conversation by Samira Rustami and Marwa Rahim, two of the women featured in the work. The Last Free Women: A Daring Escape from Afghanistan and Coming... more →
Pittsburgh's importance as a Jazz city involves many different facets and the history of the Jazz guitar is well represented here. On September 24, we will celebrate this aspect of Pittsburgh Jazz by featuring three talented, up-and-coming guitarists from the city's Jazz scene. From Barry Galbraith and Jimmy Ponder to George Benson and Joe Negri,... more →
The songwriting team of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart created many masterpieces for the Great American Songbook. Vocalist Grace Elliott, one of Pittsburgh's best young singers, will present her interpretations of some of Rodgers and Hart's classic songs on October 1. Featured Musicians: Grace Elliott: vocals Joseph Seman: tenor saxophone Alton Merrell: piano Leon Boykins:... more →
Join Khirsten Scott for a conversation with Yona Harvey on her upcoming collection Leap & Grow Feathers, which publishes on September 15, 2026. Both an instruction and a divination, Leap & Grow Feathers is an extraordinary transmission. In her third full-length collection, Yona Harvey listens—to her predecessors, her instincts, and her environment—gleaning sense from the static fraying our nerves, knowing the personal... more →
Internationally acclaimed pianist Alton Merrell and trio members Jeff Grubbs and David Throckmorton present a combination lecture and performance demonstrating the legendary artist McCoy Tyner’s lasting impact on jazz.
Originally from Ukraine, Olena Boryshpolets has been a Writer-in-Residence at the City of Asylum Fellowship for Ukrainian Writers since 2023. Join us for a presentation of her new poem The Bride. About the Author: Olena Boryshpolets is originally from Odesa, Ukraine. They say you can leave Odesa, but Odesa will never leave you. Thus, Olena brought Odesa... more →
From the minds of Andrew Swensen and Yan Pang, City of Asylum hosts an expanded showcase of “Shelter,” the story of scars carried from childhood into adulthood, how pain can distort our perception and damage our relationships, and how we find our strength through it.
All-new compositions inspired by the work of artists such as Henry Threadgill, Anthony Braxton, John Zorn, and the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians.
Prolific author and essayist Jamaica Kincaid shares new PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay–winning collection in conversation with Anderson Tepper.
