Live at the Library of Congress: An Evening of Sephardic Music with Lily Henley

Singer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter Lily Henley brings a rare intensity to the stage, reviving the Sephardic Jewish ballad tradition with a modern spark that feels both intimate and alive. Her work lifts Ladino—an endangered language shaped by centuries of Sephardic history—into the present with striking clarity and heart. Join us for this standout moment in the American Folklife Center’s Homegrown Concert Series, where Henley’s voice and vision turn cultural preservation into something immediate and unforgettable.

With Oras Dezaoradas (Lior Éditions Records), Henley expands that vision even further, reimagining Sephardic ballads shaped by centuries of movement and migration. The album draws on the full linguistic and musical tapestry of the Sephardic world—Spanish, Hebrew, Arabic, Turkish, and Persian threads woven into melodies that feel both rooted and newly illuminated. Each track becomes a vessel for the stories and inner lives of Sephardic women, carried across generations and brought into sharp, contemporary focus.

Presented in celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month and co-sponsored by the American Folklife Center at The Library of Congress. Concert Recording will be made available 3-5 weeks after the concert. Click here to register to receive a link to the edited recording when it is ready.

The Homegrown Concert Series is part of AFC’s ongoing public programming activities highlighting the fields of folklife, ethnomusicology, oral history, and related disciplines; foregrounding its archival holdings; and fulfilling its congressionally mandated mission.

Free and open to the public, but tickets are required.

Accessible seating is available upon request. Please request ADA accommodations at least five days in advance by contacting 202-707-6362 or ada@loc.gov.