When Brendan Slocumb sat down to write his debut novel, “The Violin Conspiracy,” in the summer of 2020, he had but one goal: He hoped at least one person liked it.

Over a year since its publication, “The Violin Conspiracy” has garnered rave reviews, was named by Penguin Random House as a “Must-Read Book” of 2022, and was selected as a Good Morning America Book Club Pick. It’s safe to say his furtive goal has been met and exceeded — a fact the Fayetteville native still can’t quite believe.

“I am 100% floored at its success,” he told Up & Coming Weekly with a laugh. “The fact that it's found such a varied audience is incredible. I’m just geeking out over how many people write to me that relate to the story, had no idea this world existed, or have had their minds changed because of my book — it’s amazing.”

“The Violin Conspiracy” tells the story of Ray McMillian, a young, Black, classical musician whose dreams of becoming a world-famous violinist are stymied by the rampant racism within the fine arts realm and the theft of his great-great grandfather's priceless Stradivarius the night before the most important competition of his career.

It’s a niche subject but one the newly minted author knows well. A multi-instrumentalist, Slocumb, much like his character Ray, has dedicated his life to the pursuit of musical excellence. Since earning his degree in music education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Slocumb has taught in both private and public schools and performed with orchestras throughout Northern Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

On Sunday, Jan. 22 at 3 p.m., the Friends of the Cumberland County Public Library will host Slocumb at Headquarters Library as he returns to Fayetteville to discuss his work. Following discussion and questions, Slocumb will sign copies of his book, which will also be available for purchase.

“We are excited and honored to host Mr. Slocumb at Cumberland County Public Library. The Violin Conspiracy is an absolutely riveting read, and I encourage everyone in the community to join us for this exciting program,” said Cumberland County Public Library Director Faith Phillips in a press release.

Slocumb, too, is excited about his return to Fayetteville. He credits the town and its proximity to Fort Bragg with enriching his life with so many different types of people. Fayetteville is also where Slocumb found classical music — a discovery he credits to saving his life.

“The strings program was a complete blessing,” he said. “Without that program, I wouldn't be here; I’d probably be in prison. I’m so grateful for the opportunities I’ve had, the people who helped me, and all the support I received from the community in general — it was life-changing. I appreciate my time there and am proud to say I'm from Fayetteville.”

The book’s protagonist, Ray, like Slocumb, is from a town in North Carolina and must choose between following his dream or wasting his talent by following paths charted by others. He’s a character drawn from Slocumb’s own lived experience, but he represents millions of other talented young people of color who are so often left out of narratives that delve into the world of high art.
Moved by the tragedy of George Floyd as it played across the world stage, Slocumb felt the time was right to bring the idea of Ray, a Black man burdened with a beautiful gift, to the forefront of contemporary literature.

“Ray is a lot of people, mostly me, but there are thousands of Ray McMillians out there,” he shared. “I think people are waking up to the fact that he exists in many forms, and they're giving this character a second look — seeing him with different eyes.”

While holding up his character as an object for inspection, Slocumb hopes that Ray's story invites and creates a meaningful dialogue around the unspoken racism and institutional bias within the world of classical music.

Historically, classical music is a European art form — originating in the mid-18th century in countries like England, Austria, German, France and Italy. However, it’s move across the Atlantic to American shores has done little to move the diversity needle. Even today, the genre remains overwhelmingly white. Less than 2% of classical musicians are African American, and only about 4.3 % are conductors.

The lack of diversity within professional classical music sends a clear message to minority youth that their access to that world is limited, and their dreams of one day being a part of it are impractical. With his novel, Slocumb hopes to bring some sorely needed visibility to the Black musicians quietly waiting for their turn in the spotlight.

“There is one Black person on stage at the New York City Philharmonic,” Slocumb stated. “That’s not at all representative. I know discrimination in classical music is common, but I think it’s out of sight, out of mind. I hope my book shines a light on the real instances of racism and discrimination in classical music and gives a voice to people who wouldn't have one otherwise. I’m really proud of that.”

Slocumb’s next novel, “Symphony of Secrets,” is slated for release in April, and the writer/musician is just excited to be along for the ride and interested in wherever this journey leads.

“I’m just open to anything that comes along,” he said with a smile in his voice. “I’m not looking for anything, but not going to let anything pass me by. I’m writing book three, and I’m just thrilled to be riding this wave of classical music.”

Visit www.cumberlandcountync.gov/library or call 910-483-7727 for more information about the Friends of the Cumberland County Public Library, Inc. and the library programs they support.

To learn more about Brendan Slocumb, visit his website at https://www.brendanslocumb.com/.