Milwaukee Ballet, Skylight Music Theatre and the We Energies Foundation are proud to partner with Violins of Hope – Wisconsin, presented by Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO), to bring historic instruments to new audiences.
Holocaust-era violins will be used in special performances by Milwaukee Ballet and Skylight Music Theatre this fall, in addition to 80-plus additional performances, exhibitions and educational programs throughout the state of Wisconsin.
At Skylight Music Theatre, two violins from this collection will be played during performances of Fiddler on the Roof — one on stage and one in the orchestra.
Milwaukee Ballet’s performance of Giselle, reimagined in the wartime 1940s, will feature one of the violins played onstage by a member of the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra.
The We Energies Foundation is a sponsor of both productions and Violins of Hope – Wisconsin.
“The mission and vision of the Violins of Hope commemorates the Holocaust and its victims by collecting and restoring violins played by Jewish musicians in concentration camps and ghettos, utilizing these instruments as symbols to teach about resilience, inspire unity, and combat bigotry, through concerts, exhibitions and educational programs,” said Linda Edelstein, chief executive officer of MYSO.
“This directly connects with MYSO’s mission and vision to nurture, challenge and inspire through music, profoundly changing lives and our community for the better. MYSO unites through the power of music, along with lifelong learning about how we see ourselves, each other and the world around us. We are deeply grateful for We Energies Foundation’s generous sponsorship, not only of Violins of Hope – Wisconsin, presented by MYSO, but also for their support of Skylight Music Theatre’s Fiddler on the Roof and Milwaukee Ballet’s Giselle.”
“The Violins of Hope collection will bring extraordinary resonance to both Skylight Music Theatre’s Fiddler on the Roof and Milwaukee Ballet’s Giselle, generously sponsored by We Energies,” said Susan Varela, executive director of Skylight Music Theatre. “Together, these two classic works, enhanced by the voices of violins once silenced by war and persecution, echo one another in their exploration of hope, endurance and the human spirit’s capacity to triumph over tragedy.”
“Working with Violins of Hope on Giselle is an inspiring gift to us all,” said Milwaukee Ballet artistic director and Giselle choreographer Michael Pink. “Its history and the music it produces bring a profound sense of humanity to the production that our dancers and musicians are honored to embody. We are thankful to We Energies Foundation for generously helping to support this partnership.”
“It is our privilege to be a part of the effort to bring these remarkable instruments to Milwaukee and to ensure they are heard by as many audience members as possible,” said Beth Straka, president — We Energies Foundation. “This incredible opportunity aligns directly with a core pillar of our mission — uplifting local arts and culture.”
Violins of Hope – Wisconsin will be in residency through January 2026. Fiddler on the Roof will be performed at Skylight Music Theatre until Oct. 26. Giselle will be on stage at Marcus Performing Arts Center Oct. 17-19.
Funding for the We Energies Foundation is made possible thanks to the generosity of WEC Energy Group shareholders and does not come from customer rates. To learn more about the We Energies Foundation, go to the We Energies website.