By Mabel Pais

Wharton Arts’ musicians will present A Concert for Peace with ‘Violins of Hope,’ a poignant tribute to human resilience and the power of music, on Sunday, January 12, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark.

Led by Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Helen H. Cha-Pyo, this special concert showcases the extraordinary ‘Violins of Hope,’ precious stringed instruments that survived the Holocaust. These instruments, some of which were played by prisoners of ghettos and death camps, have been meticulously restored by Israeli luthiers Amnon and Avshi Weinstein. Today, they serve as symbols of survival and perseverance, bringing hope to audiences worldwide. Join us for an unforgettable performance of remembrance, reflection, and renewal as we commemorate the resilience of the human spirit and honor the legacy of those who perished in the Holocaust.

The New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS) will perform works by Felix Mendelssohn, Paul Frucht, David Winkler, and Leonard Bernstein. During the rise of Hitler’s Third Reich in the twentieth century, Mendelssohn’s music was banned by the Nazis and his statue in Leipzig was destroyed (now rebuilt). Two ensembles of the New Jersey Youth Chorus, Coriste and Camerata, along with the Harmonium Choral Society, will join NJYS on stage, along with guest artists Asi Matathias and GRAMMY winner Ranaan Meyer.

“The Concert for Peace with Violins of Hope is more than just a performance—it’s a profound tribute to the enduring stories of human resilience, carried by these precious violins,” said Helen H. Cha-Pyo, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor. “Through the voices of Wharton Arts youth musicians, a combined intergenerational chorus, and newly composed works performed alongside award-winning soloists, we bring these stories to life, ensuring their legacy inspires and uplifts generations to come.”

Wharton Arts Trustee Courtney Pantirer said, “Each instrument comes with a history of its owner which is an incredible way to share their story, the story of European Jewry, and to keep their memories alive. Now more than ever it is important to educate and teach this new generation. We are so excited to bring this incredible concert to our communities in New Jersey and be able to educate about the Holocaust while looking to the future.”

TICKETS & MORE INFORMATION

For Tickets and more information, visit WhartonArts.org 

Ticket holders are invited to a free pre-concert talk with luthier Avshi Weinstein and display of Violins of Hope at 1:30 p.m.

A roundtable talk with a display of the instruments will take place on January 11 at 6:30 p.m. Pre-registration is required at WhartonArts.org.

Wharton Arts

Learn more at WhartonArts.org 

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THIBAUDET PLAYS RAVEL WITH  NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY AND EDUSEI CONDUCTS

• By Mabel Pais

JEAN-YVES THIBAUDET is set to perform with the New Jersey Symphony this January 9-12. Kevin John Edusei will conduct the four performances. The performances will take place at New Jersey locations, January 9-12 (see program below).

The program begins with Donghoon Shin’s ‘Of Rats and Men,’ which draws inspiration from two short stories: Franz Kafka’s ‘Josefine, die Sängerin oder Das Volk der Mäuse’ (‘Josephine the Singer, or the Mouse Folk’) and the Chilean writer Roberto Bolaño’s ‘Police Rat.’ Shin’s piece makes use of the entire orchestra’s instrumentation while maintaining a transparency that allows different layers of sound to emerge.

The first half of the program closes with Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G, a work built upon broad musical influences. The sprightly outer movements feature jazz and blues influences, while Ravel drew inspiration from Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet for the central, beautifully simple slow movement.

The second half of the program features Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2, which was composed between 1901 and 1902. Arguably Sibelius’ best-known work, the Second Symphony is known for its unconventional first movement form and the stirring nationalistic hymn that forms the main thrust of the finale.

 PROGRAM

Jean-Yves Thibaudet Plays Ravel

New Jersey Symphony Classical

Kevin John Edusei conductor

Jean-Yves Thibaudet piano

New Jersey Symphony

Newark – Thursday, January 9, 1:30 pm, New Jersey Performing Arts Center

Princeton – Friday, January 10, 8 pm, Richardson Auditorium

Newark – Saturday, January 11, 8 pm, New Jersey Performing Arts Center

New Brunswick – Sunday, January 12, 3 pm, State Theatre New Jersey

Donghoon Shin Of Rats and Men

Maurice Ravel Piano Concerto in G

Jean Sibelius Symphony No. 2

 For more information on concerts and tickets, visit njsymphony.org/events.

Kevin John Edusei

Highlights of Kevin John Edusei’s 2024–25 season include debuts with the New York Philharmonic, Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Taiwan Philharmonic Orchestra and at the Musikverein with the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra.

A strong advocate of contemporary music, Edusei’s carefully curated programs across the 2024–25 season include premieres of works by Hannah Kendall, Thomas Larcher, Samy Moussa, Brian Nabors, Derrick Skye and Gabriella Smith.

Learn more at kevinjohnedusei.com, X: @kevinjohnedusei & Facebook: facebook.com/kevinjohnedusei.conductor

Jean-Yves Thibaudet

Over three decades, through elegant musicality and an insightful approach to contemporary and established repertoire, Jean-Yves Thibaudet has earned a reputation as one of the world’s finest pianists. He is especially known for his diverse interests beyond the classical world, including numerous collaborations in film, fashion and visual art. He is a devoted educator and the first-ever artist-in-residence at the Colburn School, which awards several scholarships in his name.

A prolific recording artist, Thibaudet has appeared on more than 70 albums and six film scores; his extensive catalog has received two GRAMMY nominations, two ECHO Awards, the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik, the Diapason d’Or, the CHOC du Monde de la Musique, the Edison Prize and Gramophone awards.

Learn more at jeanyvesthibaudet.com

The New Jersey Symphony

New Jersey Symphony is a GRAMMY and Emmy Award-winning orchestra. Under the direction of the Music Director Xian Zhang, the Symphony performs more than 60 concerts at mainstage venues across the state, including Newark, Princeton, New Brunswick, Red Bank and Morristown as well as schools and public spaces statewide.

Programming at the Symphony reflects an unwavering commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion while providing students across the state unparalleled opportunities to achieve musical excellence through its Youth Orchestra and other outreach programs.

In 2024, the Symphony announced it would continue to deliver its statewide activities from a new, permanent office, rehearsal and concert space in Jersey City, set to open in 2026.

Connect with NJ Symphony

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(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Business, Social Issues, Spirituality, Cuisine, Health & Wellness, and Education)