Violins of Hope

Exhibit Violins Of Hope Wb

VIOLINS OF HOPE

August 4 - August 31, 2023

Featuring violins from victims of the Holocaust.

The Peoria Riverfront Museum, in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Peoria and the Jewish Community Centers of Chicago, is proud to present Violins of Hope, an international exhibition that showcases Jewish stories of resistance and unity through the power of musical performance. The exhibition, which commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Peoria Holocaust Memorial , will open to the public August 4, 2023.

Violin-makers Amnon and Avshalom Weinstein, father and son, who work in Tel Aviv and Istanbul own this collection. They dedicate their expertise and endless love to ensure that those instruments, most of which were rather cheap and unsophisticated, get a new beautiful make-over. Not enough, they also get a fantastic sound worth of the best musicians and large music halls.

Our violins present the victory of the human spirit over evil and hatred. At least 6,000,000 Jews were murdered in WW2, but their memory is not forgotten. It comes back to life with every concert and every act of love and celebration of the human spirit.

All instruments have a common denominator: they are symbols of hope and a way to say: remember me, remember us. Life is good, celebrate it for those who perished, for those who survived. For all people.

Schedule of events:

August 4 | Violins of Hope exhibition opens
Get tickets HERE

August 6 | Suzuki School of Music presents: Instrument Petting Zoo
1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Members get in FREE! Free with General Admission to the public. Guests are invited to experience a variety of musical instruments hands on in this interactive activity.

August 27 | Concert of Hope - Peoria Holocaust Memorial 20th Anniversary Celebration 

The Peoria Riverfront Museum and the Jewish Federation of Peoria present: Concert of Hope, celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Peoria Holocaust Memorial featuring a live performance by the Peoria Symphony Orchestra.
Get tickets HERE

August 31 | Violins of Hope Exhibition closes. 

Sponsored by: Friends of Performance, Jewish Federation of Peoria, JCC Chicago