Lady Brion Brings It
Maryland’s Poet Laureate, Lady Brion, delivered a powerful program of slam poetry and spoken word at the 2026 Victorian Chautauqua. Her high-energy performance touched on subjects ranging from social commentary to self-doubt, accomplishment, and introspection, with moments of dark reflection and notes of levity. The audience often audibly responded throughout, affirming her as a brilliant orator of our time.
With a single Saturday performance and a reputation that precedes her, the seats filled quickly under the big Martin Tent. The sun respectfully tucked itself behind the clouds, allowing Lady Brion to shine alone as she took the stage. Her presence was formidable and confident, as one might expect of the state’s Governor-appointed representative. She is the youngest person to achieve this status, yet she lacks no certainty in her agency.
When not representing Governor Moore, Lady Brion is the executive director of Maryland’s Black Arts District, an organization she founded in 2019. She is also widely recognized for slam poetry, having won the 2016 and 2021 National Poetry Slam, the 2017 and 2019 Southern Fried Regional Slam, and the 2019 Rustbelt Regional Slam. In 2021, she became the Women of the World Poetry Slam Champion, making her the number one-ranked woman slam poet in the world!
Midway through Lady Brion’s set, thunder began to rumble in the distance – a suitable soundtrack for her erupting words. Then came the rain, pushing everyone to inch inward under the tent’s canopy. It became an intimate space with ample shelter from the gentle pattering overhead. Lady Brion continued without missing a beat, leaning into scenarios and using clever word turns to build anticipation for everyone listening. Her hand gestures elevated meaning with each phrase; dancing jewelry caught the light, moving in rhythm as colorful nails blurred and traced her fingertips to emphasize questions, exclamations, and profound points.
Fortunately, the Garrett County Arts Council’s executive director, Kathy Beachler, was familiar with Lady Brion and yearned for her to perform in Garrett County. Beachler was looking for a venue and suggested the Victorian Chautauqua as the perfect place. With free admission, the program was accessible to everyone. GCAC has sponsored the Victorian Chautauqua for the last five years, but this was the first time the organization selected a funded act. The program committee was thrilled that someone of Lady Brion’s stature could schedule time to perform in Garrett County.
Before ending her performance, Lady Brion gracefully fielded audience questions about her creative process and what inspires her writing. She was then engulfed in an uproarious standing ovation. This performance captured the authentic Chautauqua spirit by highlighting today’s innovators, delighting audiences, and nurturing the mind, body, and soul. If you missed Lady Brion’s performance or want to revisit it, the video above captures a few moments and her reflections.
