Can You Imagine?: The Musical Career of Tania León

In conjunction with the exhibit "Pulitzer On the Road" CPL presents Pulitzer Prize winner Tania León who will give a presentation "Can You Imagine?" about her extensive work in the field of music.Cuban-born American composer, conductor and educator Tania León is one of the most acclaimed and influential musicians of her, or any other, generation. She was the first Latin American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in Music in 2021; in 2022 she was awarded a Kennedy Center Honor for lifetime artistic achievements; and since then has been awarded numerous acclaims. As a composer, she has been commissioned by leading orchestras around the world. As a conductor, she studied under Leonard Bernstein and Seiji Ozawa, and has guest conducted numerous orchestras around the globe. Her groundbreaking activities include: founding member and first Music Director of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, founder of the Brooklyn Philharmonic's Community Concert Series, co-founder of the American Composers Orchestra’s Sonidos de las Américas Festivals, New Music Advisor to the New York Philharmonic, and founder/Artistic Director of Composers Now, a presenting, commissioning and advocacy organization for living composers. León recently received two nominations for the 2026 Latin GRAMMY Awards for Best Classical Composition for "Raíces (Origins) – Live," and Best Classical Album for Tania León: Horizons, Raíces (Origins), Stride, Pasajes [Live]. AccessibilityNeed sign language interpretation or other accessibility assistance for this event? Please call (312) 747-8184 or email access@chipublib.org to request accommodations. Requests must be made at least 14 business days before the event. Need sign language interpretation or other accessibility assistance for this event? Please call (312) 747-8184 or email access@chipublib.org to request accommodations. Requests must be made at least 14 business days before the event. Attending CPL Online EventsQuestions about attending online events? Check out our Events FAQs.Photo provided by Tania León