This fall, history, music and memory come together in the Milwaukee Theater District for a moving series unlike any other. Violins of Hope, a traveling collection of restored instruments once played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust, offers the chance to hear their voices again through concerts, exhibits and events across the city. 

From September 2025 through January 2026, the residency is led by Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO), uniting more than 50 local organizations to share the violins and the stories they carry. Schools, libraries, performing arts groups and cultural centers are joining forces to open doors and hearts, ensuring the residency resonates with people of all ages. Explore the community spaces that will bring Violins of Hope to life. 

A violin from the Violins of Hope collection overlaid on a collage of sepia-toned photographs of Jewish musicians, families, and communities from before and after the Holocaust, symbolizing the history and legacy of the instruments.

Where You Can Experience the Violins

 
Opening Night Concert

Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra is hosting the official opening event on Wednesday, September 17, at 7:30 p.m., location to be announced. This landmark performance sets the tone for the residency as students take the stage with restored violins, carrying their history into the present through music that speaks of resilience and hope. 

 

Jewish Museum Milwaukee Exhibition  

From October 25 through January 25, Jewish Museum Milwaukee is displaying several of the violins. You can see the instruments up close and uncover the stories of the musicians who once played them. The exhibit features guided tours, educational programs and community conversations that deepen the experience. 

 

More Displays and Events Across the City 

Violins of Hope is also coming to Concordia University, UW-Milwaukee’s Golda Meir Library and the Milwaukee County Historical Society. Concordia is hosting a full week of programming from September 22 to 26, culminating in a closing concert. Each stop invites the community to connect with the violins in powerful ways, through lectures, performances, interactive exhibits and moments of reflection that ensure these stories live on. 

 

Milwaukee Theater District Partners  

The Milwaukee Theater District is bringing the story of Violins of Hope to the stage with the power only the performing arts can deliver. Milwaukee Rep, First Stage, Renaissance Theaterworks, Skylight Music Theatre, Present Music and the Milwaukee Ballet are joining forces with other partners to present performances, storytelling events and educational outreach. Their artistry gives voice to history, transforming the legacy of these violins into unforgettable experiences for audiences across the city. 

Close-up of a violin’s wooden body featuring an intricate Star of David inlay, part of the Violins of Hope collection, with text at the bottom reading “Violins of Hope Wisconsin, presented by Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO).”

A Communitywide Reflection  


Violins of Hope is about more than instruments. It is about the lives behind them and the way music carried strength and resilience through humanity’s darkest chapters. Bringing these violins to Milwaukee is an invitation to remember, to listen and to talk openly about what their stories mean today. Attend a concert, explore an exhibit or join a workshop, and you become part of keeping this legacy alive. 

To explore the full list of events and see how you can engage with Violins of Hope-Wisconsin, visit violinsofhopewisconsin.org