Virtual Book Club with Brendan Slocumb

Brendan Slocumb is a classically trained violinist and accomplished music educator. His much-anticipated debut novel, The Violin Conspiracy, takes place against a backdrop the author knows well: the fiercely competitive world of professional classical musicians. Intrepid protagonist Ray McMillian – who, like Slocumb, is a Black violinist from North Carolina – is shocked to discover that his family’s beat-up heirloom fiddle is in fact a priceless Stradivarius. Soon after this life-changing revelation, however, the rising star’s fortunes take a turn for the worse. Publishers Weekly calls The Violin Conspiracy: “A gripping debut… Slocumb sensitively portrays Ray’s resilience in the face of extreme racism.”

Collaborator: MELSA (Metropolitan Library Service Agency). Funded by Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.