From April 13–29, 2026, Violins of Hope came to Siouxland as part of Tolerance Week, presented on behalf of the Sioux City Tolerance Alliance in partnership with the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra. Every event was free and open to the public.
What is Violins of Hope?
Violins of Hope is a global project built around a private collection of 70 violins, violas and cellos connected to Jewish musicians before and during the Holocaust. Played in concerts and showcased in exhibits and educational programs worldwide, the instruments allow music to carry forward stories of resilience and remembrance for today.
The instruments were collected and lovingly restored by Israeli violin maker Amnon Weinstein. His son, Avshalom Weinstein, continues the work, restoring instruments and bringing Violins of Hope to audiences around the world. The first Violins of Hope concert was performed in 2008 in Jerusalem, and the violins have since traveled to and been played in major cities in Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Mexico, England, Romania, Poland and the United States. It was a great honor to have musicians perform with these instruments in Iowa.
In-school outreach across Siouxland
As part of Tolerance Week, musicians of the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra brought Violins of Hope directly to 6th and 7th grade students. Each 30–40 minute visit combined live music, guided conversation, and the chance to see and hear historically significant instruments up close, engaging students with themes of resilience, humanity and remembrance in an age-appropriate way.
8th-grade educational concert
On Wednesday, April 22, thousands of 8th-grade students gathered at the Orpheum Theatre for Music, History, and Reflection. With special guests alongside the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra, the program featured music by Pavel Haas, Gideon Klein and Ilse Weber, performed on instruments from the Violins of Hope collection.
Evening concert at the Orpheum
The centerpiece public event took place that evening, April 22, at the Orpheum Theatre. The strings of the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra, joined side by side by musicians from the Sioux City Symphony Youth Orchestra, performed works by Pavel Haas, Gideon Klein, Ilse Weber, Osvaldo Golijov, Ernest Bloch and Gustav Mahler on the historic instruments.
Music in the Shadow of the Rails
On Thursday, April 23, the Sioux City Symphony String Quartet gave an intimate chamber performance at the Holocaust Rails exhibit at the Sioux City Railroad Museum. Hosted by Music Director Ryan Haskins, the program centered on works by Erwin Schulhoff and Mieczysław Weinberg, along with Maurice Ravel’s Kaddish arranged for solo violin.
Thank you
Violins of Hope events, concerts and educational offerings in Sioux City were completely underwritten by supporters of Tolerance Week and the Sioux City Tolerance Alliance, ensuring that people of every age, background and neighborhood could take part.
