26th annual Bill Russell Lecture celebrates the “Women of Preservation Hall”

Written By Alicia Vial

NEW ORLEANS  – The Historic New Orleans Collection (HNOC)’s 26th Bill Russell Lecture returns Tuesday, April 8, with a spirited exploration of women’s musicianship and history at Preservation Hall. Part concert, part lecture, the annual event blends history and music to appreciate sounds from the past and the people who made them.

Co-presented with the Preservation Hall Archives, this dynamic program includes a lecture featuring guest speakers Kelly Porter, head of the Preservation Hall Archives; Sherrie Tucker, musicologist and professor of American Studies at the University of Kansas; and special guest Dodie Smith-Simmons, one of Preservation Hall's earliest employees and one of the founders of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. The lecture will be followed by a performance featuring women who play at Preservation Hall who give voice to the deepest musical traditions of New Orleans, led by Mari Watanabe featuring special guests.

The Bill Russell Lecture honors the legacy of William “Bill” Russell (1905–1992), who devoted his life to the study of New Orleans jazz and related musical forms such as brass bands, ragtime and gospel music. In 1992, HNOC acquired his monumental collection which consists of thousands of photographs, books, pieces of sheet music, piano rolls, musical instruments, recordings, correspondence, films, ephemera and more. Past lecture subjects have included Scott Joplin, the Boswell Sisters, George Lewis and Louis Armstrong

The lecture will take place at the Williams Research Center (410 Chartres St.) at 6 p.m. followed by a performance at the Toulouse Theater (615 Toulouse St.) at 7:30 p.m. Attendees are also invited to an informal “show-and-tell” that will showcase related archival objects from HNOC and Preservation Hall from 5-6 p.m.

Support for the 2025 Bill Russell Lecture comes from The Derbes Foundation and the New Orleans Recreation and Culture Fund. Tickets are $20, $5 for students, and can be purchased at hnoc.org.

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About the Historic New Orleans Collection:
The Historic New Orleans Collection is a nonprofit institution dedicated to preserving the distinctive history and culture of New Orleans and the Gulf South. Founded in 1966 through the Kemper and Leila Williams Foundation, HNOC operates as a free museum, research center and publisher spanning more than 15 historic buildings in the heart of the French Quarter. For more information visit hnoc.org.

Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

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