College of Arts + Architecture to present ‘Stories and Music from the Violins of Hope’

The College of Arts + Architecture, in partnership with the UNC Charlotte Center for Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Studies, will present “Stories and Music from the Violins of Hope” at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 11, in the Belk Theater of the Robinson Hall for the Performing Arts.

James Grymes, interim chair of the UNC Charlotte Department of Music, will read from his new book “Violins of Hope: Instruments of Hope and Liberation in Mankind’s Darkest Hour.” There will be performances of related music throughout the evening, and a book signing and reception will follow.

“Violins of Hope,” recently published by HarperCollins, tells the remarkable stories of violins played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust, which were recovered and restored by Israeli violinmaker Amnon Weinstein. Grymes was inspired to write the book when UNC Charlotte brought 18 Violins of Hope to Charlotte for a series of exhibitions and performances in April 2012.

Academy Award-winning composer John Williams wrote, “’Violins of Hope’ is a work of research and scholarship that forms one of the most moving chronicles in the history of Western music.”

The Sept. 11 event is free, but reservations are required. For tickets, call 704-687-1849 or email boxoffice@uncc.edu.