Alverno College To Host Violins of Hope Event: “Sustaining & Healing Through Music”

October 27, 2025

Alverno College will host a special event, “Sustaining & Healing Through Music: How Music Supports Coping and Thriving,” on November 13 at 7 p.m. in Wehr Hall on the Alverno campus.

Leslie Henry, associate professor and director of the college’s Music Therapy program, will lead an engaging discussion exploring how music helped members of Holocaust orchestras cope, endure and process profound human emotions during unimaginable hardship.

The evening will feature musical selections by the Milwaukee Jewish Community Chorale, performed before and after the lecture, including Charles Davidson’s choral song cycle, “I Never Saw Another Butterfly,” one of many Holocaust-inspired works reflecting the experiences of those imprisoned at Theresienstadt (Terezin). A special performance on one of the historic Violins of Hope will also be presented by Alverno violin faculty member Marvin Suson.

Violins of Hope is an international project showcasing a collection of violins, violas and cellos once owned by Jewish musicians before and during the Holocaust. Each instrument has been carefully restored to honor its owner’s legacy and the resilience of the human spirit. Learn more at violins-of-hope.com.

This program is presented in partnership with Violins of Hope – Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Milwaukee Jewish Community Chorale and Alverno College Music Therapy.

The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. To reserve a spot, click here.