Maryland’s Poet Laureate Takes the Stage
Maryland’s Poet Laureate, Lady Brion
In just two short months, the Victorian Chautauqua will unfold in the Historic District of Mountain Lake Park. The beloved weekend event will be held on July 11 and 12, featuring engaging historical portrayals, informative lectures, live music, and plenty of fun for the entire family. And as always, admission and parking are free.
Headlining this year’s event is Maryland’s Poet Laureate, Lady Brion, in a single performance at 2:00 PM on Saturday, July 11. You won’t want to miss this impressive international spoken word artist, activist, organizer, educator, and the executive director of Maryland’s Black Arts District, an organization she founded in 2019. Lady Brion is also widely recognized for slam poetry, a highly energetic, competitive poetry form with an expressive style, often focusing on personal experiences and social issues. The Garrett County Arts Council is proud to sponsor Brion’s premiere performance in Garrett County.
Kathy Beachler, the executive director of the Garrett County Art Council, dreamed of inviting Lady Brion to Garrett County as soon as she was appointed to fill the position by Governor Wes Moore. However, the location where the performance should be held remained a question for Beachler. As an arts organization, GCAC seeks to build and support a vibrant and sustainable arts community, its audiences, and expand its reach to those not yet engaged. This includes the visual arts, music, theater, dance, literary, and culinary arts. Lady Brion falls squarely into the presentation goals of GCAC, according to Beachler.
“Her reputation is impressive beyond measure, and after seeing her live performance, I was doubly motivated to invite her to Garrett County,” said Beacher. “Seeing her perform in Western Maryland would be a great honor, while fulfilling one of our missions.”
Beachler noted that there is a very active local literary group, Pirates, Poets, and Scribes, which is active on Facebook and likely to be drawn to Brion’s work. According to Beachler, poetry on Brion’s level would undoubtedly inspire the group’s members, who are already passionate about the written and spoken word. A live presentation would take the experience to the next level, while exposing residents to the power of literary arts.
Beachler pondered choosing the right venue for a poet laureate to perform. “I wasn’t even sure if an average person would know what a poet laureate is or what to expect,” she said. “Plus, I didn’t want the program to be too exclusive to attend, since it should be for anyone and everyone.”
That’s when the suggestion emerged that Lady Brion perform at the Victorian Chautauqua. The weekend festival attracts an audience of roughly 3,000 people, making this unexpected performance readily accessible to a large number of people. Beachler also liked that the free admission removes any barriers. The Arts Council has graciously sponsored the festival in Mountain Lake Park’s Historic District since its inception in 2021, providing annual funding to support performers who align with its mission of arts-related programming. Beachler was excited to arrange for and sponsor Maryland’s Poet Laureate for the 2026 Victorian Chautauqua program committee.
“She has a very busy schedule and a limited number of engagements she can fit in each year,” said Beachler. “In fact, our first attempt to book Lady Brion in 2025 encountered a last-minute conflict, requiring the poet to be at a national slam poetry competition.”
This was an unavoidable situation, since Brion represents the state. Without hesitation, Lady Brion reserved the 2026 Victorian Chautauqua event a year in advance to ensure her availability.
The tradition of a Governor-appointed Poet Laureate began after the 1959 Maryland General Assembly passed legislation granting authority to the state’s elected leader to choose a representative for the literary arts community. In 2024, Lady Brion was appointed to the position by Governor Wes Moore, making her the eleventh and youngest Poet Laureate in Maryland’s history and the only spoken word artist ever to hold this position. The earliest Poet Laureates date back to the 14th century in Europe, making way for a widely adopted distinction in modern times. The term "laureate" has come to signify recognition for preeminence or superlative achievement in rhetoric, grammar, and language.
Lady Brion is based in Baltimore and was born Brion Gill. She has performed globally since age 12, later pursuing her Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Culture from Howard University and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing & Publishing Design from the University of Baltimore. She quickly built her reputation as a skilled wordsmith and dynamic performer. Her stage presence caught the attention of Governor Wes Moore, who appointed her to replace Grace Cavalieri, now in her 90s, who had served the position since 2018. The governor first saw Lady Brion perform in January 2023 during his inauguration events. She made an impression by performing at a pre-inaugural wreath-laying ceremony at the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial on January 18, 2023, just before his swearing-in as Maryland's first Black governor.
Slam poetry is a significant part of Lady Brion’s repertoire. Audiences typically judge slam performance based on its emotional impact and delivery, not just the written words themselves. During her slam career, Brion 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! Her accomplishments make her highly sought after for public engagement.
Lady Brion fills some big shoes, including those of Lucille Clifton, who was Maryland’s Poet Laureate from 1979 to 1985. Hailing from Buffalo, New York, the poet and Pulitzer Prize finalist’s work focused on a range of topics, including the beauty and power of Black women’s bodies and what it takes for them to survive in this world. Brion places Clifton on a pedestal, acknowledging that her work “particularly stands out.” There’s no doubt, Lady Brion, like Clifton, is inspiring a new generation as she follows her passion and moves audiences with the spoken word.
To see the full schedule of this year’s performances, visit the Victorian Chatuauqua website at vc1881.com.
