Violins from a private collection – and the remarkable stories of the Jewish musicians connected to them before and during the Holocaust – are now on exhibit at The German American Heritage Center and Museum.  The historic instruments are part of the global project Violins of Hope, and the exhibition is in the museum’s first-floor gallery through April 26^th.

“The Violins of Hope instruments were collected and restored by Israeli violin maker Amnon Weinstein,” said Clare Tobin, curator of the German American Heritage Center and Museum’s exhibit.  “Today, his son, Avshalom, is the caretaker that restores the instruments and brings the violins to audiences around the world.”

The Violins of Hope Iowa residency is made possible locally by the Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities, and the residency offers programming in the Quad Cities from The German American Heritage Center and Museum, The Putnam Museum, The Figge Art Museum, Ballet Quad Cities, and the Quad City Symphony Orchestra.

Three of the violins in the “Violins of Hope” exhibit, to be displayed at the Putnam Museum, Figge Art Museum, and German American Heritage Center + Museum in Davenport (photo by Jonathan Turner).

The German American Heritage Center and Museum’s programming includes Verschleppt: The Carrying Off of Markus and Anna Mattes.  Through live music, narration, and visuals, members of the Mattes family tell the story of their ancestors’ pre-World War II emigration to the United States.  Most, but not all, of the family fled Germany and survived the Holocaust, and this program shares their journey, on Sunday, April 12^th (1:30-3:00pm).

The German American Heritage Center and Museum is located at 712 W. 2^nd Street in Davenport, Iowa.  The museum and gift shop are open 10am-4pm Tuesday-Saturday, and Noon-4pm on Sunday.  For more information, visit www.gahc.org.

For more information about Violins of Hope Iowa, visit www.violinsofhopeiowa.com.

Violins of Hope project leader Avshi Weinstein, with the historic instruments at the Putnam Museum (photo by Jonathan Turner).

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Sean Leary Director of Digital Media

Sean Leary is an author, director, artist, musician, producer and entrepreneur who has been writing professionally since debuting at age 11 in the pages of the Comics Buyers Guide. An honors graduate of the University of Southern California masters program, he has written over 50 books including the best-sellers The Arimathean, Every Number is Lucky to Someone and We Are All Characters.