As part of the “Arts on the Hill” program, Jon Batiste visited Carr’s Hill, the residence of UVA President Jim Ryan, for a conversation about the film “American Symphony.” The 2023 documentary provided an intimate glimpse into a year in the life of Mr. Batiste, one of great artistic success and great personal adversity as his wife, Suleika Jaouad, struggled with leukemia.
After the conversation, the Grammy and Oscar-award winning musician sat at the piano for a brief performance. His song “Butterfly” was composed for his wife while she was in the hospital. It took flight again at UVA. Thanks to “Sounds on Grounds,” the new video series, you can be in the room when it happened.