Symphony of Hope will bring restored Holocaust‑era violins, international soloists and local ensembles to Long Island for a concert that will transform private histories of loss into public acts of remembrance and education.
On March 12 at 8p.m., Madison Theatre at Molloy University will host the collaborative program presented by Molloy University, the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County and the Long Island Concert Orchestra.
The centerpiece of the evening is the Violins of Hope collection — instruments once owned and played by Jewish musicians before and during the Holocaust that have been meticulously restored for performance. “It really brings to life the people who once owned them and played on them in real time,” said David Winkler, executive director and composer‑in‑residence of LICO. Winkler, who founded the orchestra in 2016, framed the event as both a memorial and a community effort: “I consider Symphony of Hope to be a celebration of the human spirit through music.”
Only a portion of the collection will be used in the Madison Theatre performance; roughly 70 instruments are currently in performing condition, with many more awaiting restoration. Avshi Weinstein, who continues the restoration legacy begun by his father, master luthier Amnon Weinstein, will participate in the presentation, bringing the project’s craft and historical expertise to the stage.
Winkler emphasized why violins, in particular, carry such resonance: “Only the violins fall into this category. All other instruments were either discarded or torn apart. Violins are relatively small instruments that can be taken, put into a knapsack, into a bag.” That portability, he said, allowed persecuted musicians to carry cultural identity and, in some cases, a means of survival.
The program pairs local and international talent. The Long Island Concert Orchestra will be joined by the Long Island Choral Society, with rising guest conductor Jeffrey Dokken on the podium and Simon Zhu. The repertoire blends historical resonance and contemporary voices, including Violin Concerto No. 7 by Long Island composer Alexey Shor and work by Winkler titled Pacifica, which is “dedicated to peace.” Grammy‑nominated music director Enrico Fagone is listed as the orchestra’s artistic leader.
Institutional leaders framed the concert as both an artistic event and an educational mission. “Molloy University is honored to host The Symphony of Hope at our Madison Theatre,” s Molloy University President James Lentini, said. Jolanta Zamecka, vice chair of HMTC and a LICO board member, emphasized the event’s broader purpose: “The Symphony of Hope enables us to honor musicians whose lives ended far too soon and to inspire future generations to reject hatred and intolerance.” Michael Klinghoffer, president of the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, added that the arts “have a power to transcend time and place and bring the world together with a healing presence.”
LICO traces its roots to the Sea Cliff Chamber Players, formed in 1971, evolving through various iterations before Winkler established the Long Island Concert Orchestra in 2016 after the Long Island Philharmonic ceased operations. Winkler described the orchestra’s mission as responding to Long Island’s “growing needs” with large‑scale special events and community‑oriented programming.
Each instrument in the Violins of Hope collection carries a distinct story of survival, loss or rescue — some were played in ghettos or camp orchestras, others were hidden or carried by those who escaped persecution. Presenting these violins onstage seeks to give voice to those personal histories in a way organizers say can resonantly educate and move contemporary audiences.
Ticket and sponsorship information for Symphony of Hope is available at madisontheatreny.org.
