
Produced in collaboration with National World War II Museum, the Violins of Hope is a collection of violins that were played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust. The programs will honor the legacy of those loved and lost.
“Every performance with the Violins of Hope is a monument to a boy, a girl, a man, a woman who cannot speak anymore, it reminds us that as long as the song of a violin can be heard there, is reason to have hope.” -Amnon Weinstein, Found of Violins of Hope
Programming and Events
Further engaging and educating audiences on the Holocaust, the LPO in partnership with the National WWII Museum and Avshi Weinstein of Violins of Hope, will host Violins of Hope: New Orleans. This week of extensive public programming will include a display of instruments, public lectures, education events, and concerts featuring Jewish composers.
Violins on Exhibit
January 25 to 28, 2023
Violins of Hope Exhibit On Display
US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center, The National WWII Museum
9:00 am to 5:00 pm Daily
MORE INFORMATION>>>
Virtual Tour of Yad Vashem
Monday, January 23, 2023
Music and the Holocaust
Zoom Webinar
9:30 am to 11:30 am
REGISTER HERE>>>
Yad Vashem is the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem. Learn about Music and the Holocaust on a FREE virtual tour of Yad Vashem, The World Holocaust Remembrance Center.
Note: Due to the challenging nature of the subject, this tour may not be appropriate for those under fourteen years of age.
For more information, please contact education@lpomusic.com
Exhibit Opening
Tuesday, January 24, 2023
US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center, The National WWII Museum
5:00pm Reception /// 6:00pm Program
REGISTER HERE>>>
(In-Person and Livestreamed)
Join The National WWII Museum as we welcome Avshi Weinstein for a special opening presentation introducing the Museum’s latest traveling special exhibition, Violins of Hope. Violins of Hope, a project of concerts and educational programming, aims to teach audiences about the Holocaust through music and culture using a private collection of violins, violas, and cellos rescued from the Holocaust and lovingly restored by father-son team and renowned violin makers Amnon and Avshi Weinstein.
Lunchbox Lecture
Wednesday, January 25, 2023
Zoom Webinar
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
REGISTER HERE>>>
Avshalom (Avshi) Weinstein, a third-generation Israeli violin maker, was trained by his father, Amnon, and began working in their workshop in 1998 as a violin maker and restorer of violins, violas and cellos. Together with local educators and musicians, he visits schools where youngsters often have their first introduction to the history of the Holocaust and also the opportunity to see and hold an instrument that has survived so much and represents history.
Student Webinar
Music in the Holocaust
Friday, January 27, 2023 at 1:00 p.m.
Online Only
REGISTER HERE>>>
Join the National WWII Museum along with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra for this webinar on International Holocaust Remembrance Day as we discuss the importance of music during the Holocaust as well as “Violins of Hope,” a private collection of Violins that belonged to many Jewish people during WWII. During this webinar along with learning about the importance of music during the Holocaust students will be able to hear from an artist from the LPO as they play one of the violins from the Violins of Hope exhibit.
Register for Zoom Link Here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_045zGbj8RwWmElEHgcRhhA
Sponsored by Taube Philanthropies, the event is part of the Taube Family and is part of the Taube Family Holocaust Education Program.
International Holocaust Remembrance Day
Commemorative Program
Friday, January 27, 2023, 5:00pm to 7:00pm
US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center, The National WWII Museum
REGISTER HERE>>>
5:00 p.m. Reception
6:00 p.m. Program (In-Person and Livestreamed)
In observance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Museum will present an evening of reflection and commemoration with a Holocaust survivor. The evening will include a performance with one of the restored violins.
Sponsored by Taube Philanthropies and part of the Taube Family Holocaust Education Program.
Open Rehearsals ↗
Violins of Hope Open Rehearsal
Thursday, January 26, 2023 at 10:00am Orpheum Theater Carlos Miguel Prieto, conductor Philippe Quint, violin
Great for student groups and teachers to observe how a professional orchestra works behind the scenes and prepares for a concert. After the rehearsal, the conductor and guest artists will speak with the audience about the concert preparation and fun facts about the orchestra, piece, and composer.

Please enjoy free, unlimited access to our Violins of Hope Teacher’s Guide as a supplement to your music or history classroom. This curriculum is broken into three separate units. After completing all three units, students will have foundational knowledge of the history of the Holocaust and the Violins of Hope’s role in the preservation of Jewish heritage, as well as music’s role in the cultural identity of people around the world. Included in each unit are Student Handouts, in which students will complete reading and writing assignments so that you may check for understanding. Deep Dives and Additional Assignments are provided throughout the Teacher Guide, which can lengthen the lessons.
concerts
January 26, 2023 7:30 PM
Orpheum Theater
Carlos Miguel Prieto, conductor
Philippe Quint, violin
- Juan Pablo Contreras: MeChicano
- Korngold: Violin Concerto
- Chaplin: The Kid Fantasy
- Shostakovich: Symphony No. 1
January 28, 2023 7:30 PM
The National WWII Museum, Freedom Pavillion
Carlos Miguel Prieto, conductor
Philippe Quint, violin
- Weill: Suite from Threepenny Opera
- Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor
- Williams: Theme from Schindler’s List
- Chaplin: Smile (Theme from Modern Times)
- Morricone: Cinema Paradiso Theme

Sponsorship Levels
Your support as a sponsor allows the LPO to further engage and educate audiences on the Holocaust and celebrate the lives and stories of those loved and lost.
The Friedman Violin
$5,000
Recognized in print materials, LPO website, & app
Recognition onscreen at the Orpheum Theater & in commemorative program
Reserved seating for 4 at the LPO concert at the Orpheum Theater
Reserved seating for 4 at the LPO concert at the National WWII Museum
Invitation for 4 to VIP reception
The Strobel Violin
$2,500
Recognized in print materials, LPO website, & app
Recognition in commemorative program
Reserved seating for 4 at the LPO concert at the Orpheum Theater
Reserved seating for 4 at the LPO concert at the National WWII Museum
Invitation for 4 to VIP reception
The Benedict Wagner Violin
$1,000
Recognized in print materials, LPO website, & app
Recognition in commemorative program
Reserved seating for 2 at the LPO concert at the Orpheum Theater
Reserved seating for 2 at the LPO concert at the National WWII Museum
Invitation for 2 to VIP reception
Violins of Hope Patron
$500
Recognized on the LPO website & app
Recognition in commemorative program
Invitation for 1 to VIP reception
Violins of Hope Planning Committee
Co-chaired by Ana & Juan Gershanik
Marc Behar
Valeria Besthoff
Vivian & Richard Cahn
Ina & Rick Davis
Arnie & Sue Fielkow
Richard & & Linda Friedman
Mara & Josh Force
Alan & Diane Franco
Bobby Garon
Alice Yelen & Kurt Gitter
Dov Glazer
Susan & Bill Hess
Dr. Bernard Jaffe
Lis & Hugo Kahn
Richard Katz
Susan Krinsky
Anne & Stan Levy
Sanford Pailet
Madalyn & Robert Schenk
Leopold & Karen Sher
Dr. Eddie Soll & Vicky Glover
Betty Speyrer
Judge Miriam Waltzer
Naomi Yavneh
With gratitude to the following sponsors and partners
SANDOR FISHER VIOLIN SPONSOR $10,000
Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans
Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust
THE FRIEDMAN VIOLIN $5,000
Cahn Family Foundation
Ferber Family of Houma Foundation
Ana and Juan Gershanik
Jewish Endowment Foundation
Susan Krinsky
Sanford Pailet
Dr. Eddie Soll and Vicky Glover
THE STROBEL VIOLIN $2,500
Richard and Linda Friedman
Susan and Bill Hess
Lis and Hugo Kahn
Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home & Cemeteries
Ruth and Joel Loeffelholz
Betty and Greg Speyrer
THE BENEDICT WAGNER VIOLIN $1,000
Judy Barrasso
Marc Behar
Louellen and Darryl Berger
Valerie Besthoff
Ina and Richard Davis
Dale Fleishmann
Mara and Joshua Force
Ms. Alice Yelen and Dr. Kurt Gitter
Dov and Margery Glazer
Dr. Bernard Jaffe
Lisa and Brian Katz
Naomi and Stanley Yavneh Klos
Sidney and Joyce Pulitzer
Madalyn and Robert Schenk
Karen and Leopold Sher
Jane and Billy Sizeler
Robert and Pamela Steeg
Mr. James C. Gulotta and Ms. Susan G. Talley
Judge Miriam Waltzer
With gratitude to the Franco Family Fund, and gifts given by Friends of the Museum.
Concerts are supported by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council.
The Yad Vashem Tour is made possible thanks to a grant from the Mark Schonwetter Holocaust Education Foundation and the Loyola Anne Frank Project at Loyola University New Orleans.
For further information about the Loyola Anne Frank Project Lessons from the Holocaust for Today, please contact Prof. Naomi Yavneh Klos (yavneh@loyola.edu).
