The American Folklife Center has exciting events in May, including a lecture and a concert. Both events are free and open to the public, and accessible seating is available on request. See a summary below, and visit the link for more details.

Thursday, May 07, 2026 12:00 pm - 01:00 pm EDT, Whittall Pavilion (LJG45E)
The Irish Traditional Music Archive (ITMA): Connecting Artists and Archives
(AFC@50 Botkin Lecture)

In this lecture, Liam O’Connor, Director of the Irish Traditional Music Archive (ITMA), discusses this national reference archive and cultural resource center for Irish traditional song, instrumental music, and dance. Founded in 1987 and now the world’s largest specialist repository for Irish traditional performing arts, ITMA documents traditions and performers on the island of Ireland, within the Irish diaspora, and among global practitioners. The lecture will explore how ITMA connects artists, archivists, and communities through archival preservation and creative programming, including initiatives such as the Drawing from the Well concert series, tours, and film projects that link archival research directly with the creation of new work, alongside expanding digital access to a living tradition. In addition, AFC folklorist Steve Winick will provide an overview of the AFC’s Irish and Irish American holdings.

Liam O’Connor is a former professional musician an educator with a background in Irish folklore, and an award-winning fiddle player. He works at the intersection of archival practice, artistic research, and public cultural programming. He is executive producer, director, and presenter of film and television projects drawing on ITMA’s collections, and has worked closely with the National Concert Hall, Ireland’s public service broadcasters RTÉ and TG4, and state agencies including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Culture Ireland. Currently, he also is involved with programming connected to the US250 commemorations.

Wednesday, May 13, 2026 07:00 pm - 08:00 pm EDT, Coolidge Auditorium (LJG45A)
An Evening of Jewish Music with Lily Henley
(AFC@50 Homegrown Concert)

In celebration of Jewish American History Month, the American Folklife Center will present an evening of Sephardic Jewish music with Lily Henley and her trio. Lily Henley is a talented singer, songwriter, and violinist who performs traditional and original songs in the Ladino language. Henley’s music is influenced by Sephardic Jewish traditions from across Europe and western Asia, as well as by Celtic music, American old-time, and other folk music genres. Ladino, also called Judeo-Spanish, is an endangered language that evolved from 15th century Castilian Spanish, with influences from Hebrew, Arabic, Turkish, Greek, and other languages of the Jewish diaspora. Ladino is spoken by Sephardic Jewish communities across the globe. In addition to performing ancient Ladino ballads and love songs, Henley is one of the few songwriters composing new songs in Ladino. Her music mixes old and new sounds, creating a contemporary musical offering that keeps Sephardic traditions relevant for future generations.

This event is hosted in collaboration with the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History and in partnership with the African and Middle Eastern Division of the Library of Congress. The American Folklife Center is organizing this concert as part of the Homegrown Concert Series and in celebration of the Center's 50th anniversary.

Details on tickets, directions, ADA accommodations, and more are at the link!