The Music Tells Our Stories: Latines in Illinois and the USA

This program focuses on a broad overview of milestones from the last several centuries 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!

October 3, 2026
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Howard Rutan Meeting Room

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.

This program is made possible through a partnership with Illinois Humanities.

The Library is committed to making programs accessible to all. If you would like an accommodation, please email the Community Relations Administrator at btruscelli@danvillepubliclibrary.org or call 217-477-5220 ext. 111.