The Peoria Symphony Orchestra, Peoria Riverfront Museum, and the Jewish Federation of Peoria present: Concert of Hope, celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Peoria Holocaust Memorial featuring a live performance by the Peoria Symphony Orchestra.

The Concert of Hope showcases Jewish stories of resistance and unity through the power of musical performance. The concert will be a companion to the Violins of Hope exhibition, which commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Peoria Holocaust Memorial and will open to the public on Aug. 4, 2023.

Amid the human destruction of the Holocaust, the treasures of the Jewish people were also displaced. The Nazis burned, smashed, looted, and confiscated the possessions of millions. But some precious pieces remained. Many musical instruments survived when their owners did not.

Israeli violinmakers Amnon and Avshalom (Avshi) Weinstein have spent the past 20 years collecting and repairing 70 Holocaust-era violins and other stringed instruments from around the world. Together they have lovingly located and restored the violins, reclaiming their lost heritage and reinforcing essential messages of harmony and humanity.

The Peoria Riverfront Museum will host 10 violins as part of the gallery exhibition. Four of the violins are playable and will be featured in a special performance, the Concert of Hope, by the PSO at the museum.

The violins have traveled to cities across the globe, including Rome, Tel Aviv, Berlin, Cleveland, London, Washington D.C., Los Angeles County, Chicago, and now Peoria, Illinois.

The Concert of Hope, featuring the Peoria Symphony Orchestra, will take place at the Peoria Riverfront Museum Sunday, Aug. 27, at 4 p.m. Tickets for the concert are $50 for museum members and $65 for non-members. Tickets and a list of other events related to the Violins of Hope exhibition can be found on the museum website at: peoriariverfrontmuseum.org.

For tickets: Ticketscart.peoriariverfrontmuseum.org/performance.aspx