Violins of Hope events scheduled throughout month

A set of violins restored and preserved from the Holocaust will be in Birmingham this month for a series of concerts and educational programs.

Violins of Hope is the project of Israeli violinmaker Emnon Weinstein and his family. Weinstein restores violins that were owned by Holocaust victims and survivors, and the traveling Violins of Hope exhibit shares both the violins and the stories of their former owners.

The visit to Birmingham was organized by the Birmingham Jewish Federation, The Birmingham Holocaust Education Center, the UAB Institute for Human Rights, the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham and ABC 33/40, among other sponsors and donors.

Violins of Hope will be in Birmingham April 10-14. The visit includes student and teacher workshops and youth programs at the Alys Stephens Center.

Public events will include a welcome for Weinstein and his family at 16th Street Baptist Church and a “Celebration of Diversity Through Music” at 16th Street Baptist Church on April 11, as well as a Holocaust Remembrance Day and survivors Sabbath service at Temple Emanu-El on April 13. 

The Concertmaster & Friends will present “Quartet for the End of Time” with Violins of Hope at Alys Stephens Center on April 12 at 7:30 p.m. The visit will end with a concert by the Alabama Symphony Orchestra on April 14 at 7 p.m., which will be followed by a donor reception and exhibit about the violins.

See a full listing of the Violins of Hope program and purchase tickets at violinsofhopebhm.org.