The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee is thrilled to announce the VIOLINS OF HOPE program, presented by the Mazur Family Fund. This program will take place throughout Sarasota-Manatee in February 2017.
Even in the midst of the unspeakable evil of the Holocaust, there was music. Music was a source of comfort, hope and resistance – a way for Jews to express themselves and prevent the Nazis from stripping them of their humanity. Amnon Weinstein, one of the world’s most respected violin makers, has dedicated his life to locating and restoring violins that were played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust, so that they can give voice to the voiceless – their owners and the millions who perished at the hands of the Nazis. He calls these instruments the Violins of Hope, in the belief that were there was music, there was hope.With the generous support of the Mazur Family Fund, The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee will host Weinstein, along with his wife and son (a fellow luthier), when he brings 16 of these violins to our community for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – to hear these violins played and to experience the stories of their owners. The community will have numerous opportunities to experience the violins; as well, Amnon will take the violins to area public and parochial schools so that the next generation will have the opportunity to hear the stories as a vehicle to study the Holocaust.
The Violins of Hope will be played throughout the community by Perlman Music Program/Suncoast alumni, members of the Sarasota Orchestra, and the Presidential String Quartet from State College of Florida. In what promises to be a series of inspiring, cultural, and educational events, Violins of Hope will highlight the suffering, courage, and resilience during an era of unspeakable evil. The schedule of events includes:
The Len Mazur Memorial Concert
Violins of Hope Opening Night
February 1, 2017 – 7:30pm
Ritz Carlton Sarasota
This unforgettable night features Amnon Weinstein, emcee Henry Winkler (from NBC’s new show, Better Late Than Never), violin soloist Cihat Askin from Turkey, and members of the Sarasota Orchestra. It is sure to be a night you’ll never forget!
A Conversation with Amnon Weinstein and James A. Grymes
February 6, 2017 – 7:00pm at the Riverview High School Auditorium
February 7, 2017 – 10:30am at Temple Beth Israel, Longboat Key
James A. Grymes, musicologist at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, and author of Violins of Hope: Instruments of Hope and Liberation in Mankind’s Darkest Hour, will join Weinstein in conversation on February 6 and 7. Weinstein and Grymes will explore the complex role that several of these violins played during the Holocaust; as well, audiences will have an opportunity to hear the violins played by alumni of the Perlman Music Program/Suncoast.
Community Outreach Performances
- February 9, 2017 at 7:30pm at Neel Auditorium, Bradenton with State College of Florida’s Presidential String Quartet
- February 13, 2017 – 7:00pm at First United Methodist Church, Downtown Sarasota with Perlman Music Program/Suncoast alumni
- February 16, 2017 – 7:00pm at Temple Beth Sholom with Perlman Music Program/Suncoast alumni
Tickets will go on sale for all Violins of Hope events in mid-November. Click HERE for more details. |
