Literary Round Table with Dr Lorenzo Martinez

Institute of Hispanic Culture of Houston (IHCH) presents a Literary Round Table with Dr. Lorenzo Martinez Saturday, October 1.

Dr.Lorenzo Pablo Martínez introduces his book Cuba, Adiós: A Young Man’s Journey to Freedom. This book has won on September 2016 the first  prize for  best autobiography at the International Latino Prize Award. 

The book  explores Dr. Martinez  participation in Operación Pedro Pan, a secretive mass exodus of more than 14,000 children that landed in America between 1960 and 1962 fleeing Castro’s regime.

The Literary Round Table will discuss the book and in parallel the personal experiences of the author. After the Literary Round Tabe, there will be book signing by Dr Lorenzo Martinez.

Hailing from Cuba, Lorenzo Pablo Martínez holds a master’s in piano performance from Manhattan School of Music and a doctorate in music education from Columbia University/Teachers College. Martínez has appeared in recitals on radio and television, and his musical compositions have been performed nationally and at international festivals.

The television show Captain Kangaroo featured some of his works, and for Group Soup, a children’s book published by Viking, he contributed the title song. In addition, a book of his children’s songs, The Circus, was published by Clarus Music Ltd.

Martínez translated all twelve episodes of The Second Voyage of the Mimi, produced by Bank Street College of Education for PBS, and co-edited The Ginseng Conspiracy, a mystery novel published by Muse It Up. His recent memoir, Cuba, Adiós, explores his participation in Operación Pedro Pan, a secretive mass exodus of more than 14,000 children that landed in America between 1960 and 1962 fleeing Castro’s regime.

Over the years, Martínez has played important roles in the not-for-profit arena, overseeing development and communications / marketing departments for a number of international organizations. He has been a frequent lecturer at several New York institutions such as New York University, the New School, York College of the City University of New York, and the 92nd Street Y. Martínez is working on a second memoir and a mystery novel for young adults.

Recently, he was named Executive Director of the Houston Chamber Choir, a professional group of 28 singers that has received critical acclaim nationally and abroad.