A moving exhibit and symphony series celebrating unity, resilience, and the power of music

KNOXVILLE, TN (SPECIAL TO WLAF)— A moving story of Holocaust survival will be told in Knoxville this spring when the world-renowned Violins of Hope exhibit returns to offer visitors a deeply moving and profound display of violins that were once played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust. Violins of Hope will be on exhibit in Downtown Knoxville from March 3 through April 9, 2024 at Digital Motif, 108 S. Gay Street.

The month-long exhibit will not only feature the Violins of Hope, but will also include two moving performances by the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, as well as educational outreach to area schools, synagogues and churches.

“The Violins of Hope represent the unity and resilience of Jews during the Holocaust, and they are a testament to the power of music in our lives,” said Stanford Eisenberg Knoxville Jewish Day School Head of School Miriam Esther Wilhelm. “We are fortunate to have Holocaust survivors and World War II veterans still with us to tell the stories of that terrible time, but soon only artifacts like the Violins of Hope will remain to tell the firsthand accounts of Jewish persecution during the Holocaust.”

Amid the evil perpetrated against millions of Jews during the Holocaust, countless stories of survival emerged. Many of those stories centered around the Violins of Hope that presented an opportunity for survival for dozens of Jews cruelly forced to play these instruments for the entertainment of their Nazi captors.

The Violins of Hope exhibit and performances present a rare and powerful opportunity to explore the intersection of history, music, and education.

“Each violin carries its own story of courage, echoing the indomitable spirit of those who played it,” said Wilhelm. “These events will unite the Knoxville community to honor the past while building a future grounded in unity and understanding, and the Stanford Eisenberg Knoxville Jewish Day School is honored to organize the exhibition.”

Violins of Hope would not be possible in Knoxville without the generous support of the Stanford Eisenberg Knoxville Jewish Day School, Digital Motif, the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, WVLT Channel 8, The Tennessee Holocaust Commission, the City of Knoxville, Knox County, Visit Knoxville, Lilienthal Gallery, Junction 35, the University of Tennessee Judaic Studies Department, and many other pubic and private community partners and volunteers.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for individuals and organizations wishing to support this historic event, including the opportunity to sponsor individual violins during the exhibit. By becoming a sponsor, you will not only contribute to a culturally significant initiative but also help sustain the vital educational programs at the Stanford Eisenberg Knoxville Jewish Day School. For more information on sponsorship of Violins of Hope and how to get involved, please visit. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-11/22/2024-6AM)

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