The Cather Project in the Department of English is hosting Alex Ross, music critic for The New Yorker. He will present a free public lecture on Thursday, Sept. 8 at 3:30 p.m. at the Center for Great Plains Studies, 1155 Q St. He is the author of “The Rest is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century” (2007) and “Listen to This” (2011).

His lecture will be on Richard Wagner and Willa Cather. The lecture will be followed by a book signing and reception.