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Presented by Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO)

Composing an era of harmony for our community

In the midst of World War II as Germany battled across Europe, the Holocaust was taking place. Jewish prisoners and others targeted by the Nazis played violins in the ghettos and concentration camps. Many musicians were forced to play; others played them as a form of resistance.

During the Holocaust, as the Jewish people were dehumanized, discriminated against, and mass murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators, musical instruments too bore witness to this atrocity.

But today, their music bears witness to this history, rising again, stronger and more vibrant - a testament to survival, hope, and the resilience of the human spirit.

This is the transformative journey of Violins of Hope-Wisconsin.

The Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO) is bringing Violins of Hope, a collection of instruments owned and played during the Holocaust, to the Wisconsin community for a five-month residency of educational and cultural programs, exhibits, and performances from September 2025 to January 2026.

Please join us for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
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A collage of old photographs from Violins of Hope of Jewish musicians with a violin laying on top
Photos courtesy of Violins of Hope Pittsburgh residency and Violins of Hope.
Bearing Witness to History
Join MYSO and the Violins of Hope for this residency, where together we will take action with stories of perseverance, hope, and resilience, prominently featuring the violins and their stories in education, exhibits, community conversations, and performances, connecting their history and honoring the voices of the past while inspiring hope for the future.

 For more information, sign up below.
Violin-maker and Violins of Hope curator Avshalom Weinstein explains how this incredible collection of instruments from the Holocaust came together.
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Violins of Hope-Wisconsin arrives in September 2025.
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Violins of Hope-Wisconsin, beginning in September 2025 through January 2026, is presented by Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO) and their community partners along with Violins of Hope.
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@ 2025 Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra & Violins of Hope-Wisconsin.