♪ ♪ (SPEAKING GERMAN).

>> THESE ARE ALL REALLY BRIGHT KIDS TO PAY ATTENTION DURING SCHOOL SO THEY KNOW QUITE A BIT COMING IN SO I TRY TO FILL IN SOME OF THE GAPS THAT THEIR HISTORY BOOKS DON'T COVER.

VERY FEW HISTORY BOOKS TALK ABOUT THE TERRORISM AND THE CONCENTRATION CAMP MUSIC BECAUSE SO MUCH IS FOCUSED ON AUSCHWITZ AND HITTERLER'S PROGRAM.

>> WE HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY.

MUCH OF THE MUSIC THAT YOU HEAR THERE AND THAT WAS BEING PLAYED THERE SURVIVED THE CAMPS.

SOME OF IT SURVIVED IN AT THAT TIMERRED FORM TATTERED FORM IN THE BACK OF A VIOLIN CASE OR WHEN THE ALLIES LIBERATED THE CAMP.

WE HAVE SOME OF THE MUSIC.

WE ARE GOING PLAY SOME OF THE MUSIC PLAYED.

THOSE MUSICIANS SHARE MANY TRAITS WITH YOU.

THEY'RE PEOPLE, MANY OF THEM YOUNG, MANY OF THEM WITH FAMILIES.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU AND THEM IS MOST OF THEM, WITHIN A YEAR OF THIS FILMING WERE DEAD.

(VIOLIN MUSIC) VIOLINS OF HOPE IS AN INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM THAT CAME TO OUR COMMUNITY, BRINGING 50 VIOLINS THAT HAD BEEN PLAYED AND OWNED BY JEWISH MUSICIANS DURING THE HOLOCAUST.

>> THE VIOLINS OF HOPE IN LOUISVILLE IS REALLY AN EFFORT TO EDUCATE PEOPLE, TO REMIND THEM OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THE HOLOCAUST SO THAT THEY WILL KNOW THAT IT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> A COLLECTION OF VIOLINS THAT WERE USED IN THE HOLOCAUST HAS BEEN RESTORED AND TRAVELS FROM TOWN TO TOWN THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND EACH CITY THAT GETS THE GROUP OF VIOLINS TO COME AND VISIT, PROGRAMS AT LEAST A COUPLE OF WEEKS WORTH OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE VIOLINS TO MAKE APPEARANCES, EITHER IN PERFORMANCE OR THROUGH EDUCATION AND TO CONNECT WITH THE POPULATION SO THAT THE STORY OF HOW MUSIC TRANSCENDS OR HELPS PEOPLE DEAL WITH TERRIBLE TRAGEDY, CAN BE RETOLD.

>> I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, YOU HAVE TO BRING THIS TO LOUISVILLE.

I DIDN'T KNOW HOW.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHO WAS GOING TO FUND IT.

I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE ANY IDEA.

ALL I KNEW IS THAT I HAD TO BRING IT TO LOUISVILLE BECAUSE IT SEEMED PARAMOUNT TO ME THAT THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY BE MADE AWARE OF THE STORY.

>> I'M A VIOLIN MAKER AND CO-FOUNDER OF VIOLINS OF HOPE.

EACH 100 YEARS OF VIOLINS IN OUR COLLECTION HAS HISTORY.

100 YEAR HISTORY, WE CALL THEM MODERN INSTRUMENTS.

THE AMOUNT OF STUFF THAT THEY'VE SEEN, WE CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE.

>> IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING TO COME TO LOUISVILLE.

AND I THINK THE CITY HAS DONE A PARTICULARLY SPECIAL JOB OF CREATING A SERIES OF PROGRAMS AND EVENTS AROUND THESE IMPORTANT INSTRUMENTS.

>> OUR CITY REALLY POSITIONS ITSELF AS A COMPASSIONATE CITY.

AND I THINK THE VIOLINS OF HOPE DOVE TAILS PERFECTLY WITH THAT AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE COME TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT COMPASSION IS MORE THAN A FEELING.

IT IS A COMMITMENT AND HAS ACTION BEHIND IT.

>> WE GOT A LOT OF FUNDING FROM SOME VERY INTERESTED AND CHARITABLE FOLKS AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS TO ALLOW US TO BRING THIS, SO THAT EVERYTHING WAS FREE.

NOBODY HAD TO PAY.

I DIDN'T WANT ANYBODY TO SAY WELL, I DON'T WANT TO GO SEE THAT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO PAY THE MONEY.

SO WE MADE IT FREE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I WAS CONTACTED BY ONE OF STAFFERS FROM THE LOUISVILLE ORCHESTRA.

I THINK IT WAS THREE YEARS AGO, WHEN THEY MADE PUBLIC THE TOUR SCHEDULE FOR VIOLINS OF HOPE AND WE FOUND OUT THEY WERE COMING TO LOUISVILLE.

THEY SAID WE KNOW YOU ARE INVOLVED IN THE LOUISVILLE YOUTH ORCHESTRA AND HAVE A BIG PROGRAM IN INDIANA.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THIS, WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO BE A PART OF THIS.

I SAID IMMEDIATELY, YOU CAN STOP WONDERING, YES.

WE WANT OUR KIDS TO BE PART OF THIS.

>> I FIRST STARTED PLAYING VIOLIN IN THE FIFTH GRADE.

I GOT INTRODUCED TO IT IN MY MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM.

I WAS ABOUT NINE OR 10 WHEN I STARTED.

THROUGH THESE VIOLINS THAT WERE PASSED THROUGH SUCH A TERRIBLE TIME, WE GET TO EXPERIENCE AND HAVE SOMETHING THAT WAS ACTUALLY LIKE IN A CONCENTRATION CAMP AND THAT'S LIKE REALLY HEF HEAVY, ALL OF THIS MUSIC IS SO SAD AND SOMBER AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT THESE PEOPLE WERE FEELING.

>> I PLAY VIOLIN.

I'M THE SECOND VIOLIN SECTION LEADER.

I HAVE BEEN TO THE WARSAW GHETTO IN AUSCHWITZ AND AUSCHWITZ BERKI NNAL SO DEFINITELY COMPARED TO MY PEERS, I HAVE A LOT MORE EMOTIONS TIED TO THE MUSIC THAT WE ARE PLAYING BECAUSE I'VE SEEN THE WITH MY OWN EYES, WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO STAND THERE AND I CAN ABSOLUTELY IMAGINE HOW THESE MUSICIANS FELT AS A MUSICIAN MYSELF, HAVING TO PLAY IN THOSE CONDITIONS.

IT'S COLD.

IT'S DARK, IT'S DREARY.

>> YOU NEED TO KNOW THE HISTORIC UNDERPINNINGS OF THIS THING SO THAT WHEN WE PARTICIPATE IN THIS THING WITH THE VIOLINS OF HOPE PEOPLE, YOU CAN BE INFORMED PARTICIPANTS.

THIS PRELUDEIUM WAS WRITTEN BY A FLUTIST AND COMPOSER NAMED VICTOR COHEN.

HE WAS A FLUTE PLAYER... >> BY PLAYING MUSIC THAT WAS WRITTEN BY PEOPLE WHO LIVED THROUGH THAT EXPERIENCE AND NOT ONLY THAT, IT WAS WRIT ENWHILE THEY WERE GOING THROUGH THAT EXPERIENCE THAT PROVIDES A PORTAL FOR THESE STUDENTS TO FEEL THE FEELINGS THAT THEY WERE FEELING AND TO MAKE SOME KIND OF AN EMOTIONAL CONNECTION WITH THEM.

MUSIC EXPRESSES FEELINGS THAT YOU CAN'T EXPRESS VERY WELL IN WRITTEN DOWN ENGLISH, SPANISH OR FRENCH OR...

IT EXPRESSES IDEAS AND EMOTIONS THAT LANGUAGE CAN'T.

AND I THINK BOTH OF THESE PIECES THAT WE ARE CHOOSING TO DIG INTO, SCHINDLER'S LIST AND PRELUDEIUM ARE WONDERFUL EXPRESSIONS OF THE EMOTIONS AND EXPERIENCES OF THAT TIME.

THESE VIOLINS ARE HISTORY.

>> MY NAME IS ANDY.

WE ARE A MUSEUM THAT EXISTS TO IGNITE THE HUMAN SPIRIT, TO TELL STORIES THAT MEAN SOMETHING.

THAT HAVE AN IMPACT BY RECONNECTING WITH THE PAST, YOU GAIN A BETTER KNOWLEDGE OF WHO YOU ARE, WHAT YOU STAND FOR AND WHERE YOU ARE HEADED.

AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LOOKED TO WHEN WE WERE MAKING A DECISION ABOUT WHETHER WE SHOULD HOLD THIS EXHIBIT OR NOT.

>> THE VIOLINS ARRIVED ON SATURDAY, THEY CAME ON A TRUCK, THEY WERE ON A PALLET AND ALL TOGETHER AND SO WE PUT THEM ON SHELVES.

THEY'RE NOT CRATED.

THEY'RE JUST IN THEIR CASES SO WE HAVE THEM IN STORAGE AT THE MOMENT ON SHELVES.

WE HAVE NOT UNPACKED THEM YET.

WE HOPE DO THAT STARTING TOMORROW.

THIS IS COLLECTION STORAGE.

AS YOU CAN SEE, WE WERE ABLE TO PUT STRAIGHT ON TO OUR SHELFING.

IT'S COMPACTIBLE SO I'M SUPER EXCITED BECAUSE IT WILL ALL LIKE-- SO WAS WE ARE GOING TO DO IS WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE MEDIA COME AND WE ARE JUST GOING TO, AS FAR AS I KNOW, WE ARE JUST GOING TO OPEN UP THE CASES AND KIND OF SHOW THEM WHAT WE DO TO UNPACK AND GET READY TO PUT THE VIOLINS ON DISPLAY.

THIS STORY IS REALLY, I THINK IT'S A HOPEFUL STORY.

I THINK WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING AS TRAGIC AND HORRIFIC AS THE HOLOCAUST, IT'S REALLY POWERFUL TO SEE THINGS THAT SURVIVED BECAUSE THE HUMAN SPIRIT IS ALWAYS REALLY HOPEFUL AND WILL SURVIVE SO I THINK IT'S A REALLY POWERFUL STORY TO TELL.

>> OKAY.

BRIEFLY, JUST ON BEHALF OF THE FRASIER, WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE THIS IMPORTANT 10-DAY EXHIBIT HERE AT THE FRASIER HISTORY MUSEUM.

THIS VIOLIN WAS ORIGINALLY OWNED BY A SURVIVOR OF THE AUSCHWITZ CONCENTRATION CAMP.

>> THESE VIOLINS BRING AN IDENTITY, BRING TO LIFE THE 6 MILLION PEOPLE KILLED DURING THE HOLOCAUST.

YOU FEEL IT.

IT IS TANGIBLE.

IT SPEAKS FROM THAT GENERATION TO THIS GENERATION BECAUSE IT'S THE SAME INSTRUMENT THAT WAS IN THESE AWFUL CONCENTRATION CAMPS THAT IS HERE NOW IN LOUISVILLE KENTUCKY, TELLING THE STORY.

♪ ♪ (SLOW MELANCHOLY MUSIC).

>> THROUGH THE VIOLINS THEY'RE CREATING THIS MUSIC THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HEARD AT THE VERY TIME THAT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN'T CONFRONT OR FULLY COMPREHEND WAS HAPPENING.

PRODUCING THE SAME SOUNDS, THEY'RE STILL BRINGING THAT SAME VIBRATION TO ALL OF US THAT WE SHARE.

AND, OF COURSE, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY ON OUR PROGRAM WE WERE SO THOUGHTFUL WITH WHAT THE LOUISVILLE ORCHESTRA IS PLAYING, ONE OF THE PIECES FROM THE DIARY OF ANN FRANK IS ON THE PROGRAM BECAUSE HER VERSION OF ART, HER DIARY, WHICH IS ART JUST LIKE MUSIC, ARE A PATH TO CONNECT WITH CHILDREN, WITH KIDS ABOUT SOMETHING THAT, AGAIN, IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DISCUSS.

>> I'M DANIEL HERE LIVE AT OUR PERFORMANCE STUDIO AT 90.5 CLASSICAL LOUISVILLE AND THIS IS PERHAPS ONE OF THE MOST SPECIAL MEMORABLE IN STUDIOS THAT I THINK WE'VE' DONE, AND WILL PROBABLY EVER DO.

IN OUR STUDIO TODAY IS A VIOLIN THAT WAS MADE IN 1929 IN WARSAW, POLAND, AND IT IS ONE OF THE VIOLINS OF HOPE.

THESE ARE INSTRUMENTS THAT SURVIVED THE HOLOCAUST AND WE ARE GOING TO TALK TO THE CO-FOUNDER OF VIOLINS OF HOPE IN A LITTLE BIT AND HEAR ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS BEAUTIFUL INSTRUMENT.

BUT BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT IT, WE WANT TO HEAR IT.

WE WANT TO HEAR IT SING AND TELL ITS STORY.

MATT LANE IS A VIOLINIST AND HE IS GOING TO BE PLAYING THE MUSIC ALONG WITH PIANIST.

THIS IS THE PLAYED BY ONE OF THE VIOLINS OF HOPE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WHEN WE KNEW THAT VIOLINS OF HOPE WERE COMING TO LOUISVILLE, I KNEW WE HAD TO HAVE AN INSTRUMENT HERE.

WE WANT TO BE AS CLOSE TO THE MUSICIANS TO THE INSTRUMENTS AS POSSIBLE.

FOR US IT'S A VERY INTIMATE EXPERIENCE IN THE SPACE, IN THE MOMENT, YOU KNOW, MATT TOOK THAT VIOLIN OUT OF THE CASE AND YOU SEE THE STAR OF DAVID ETCHED ON THE BRIDGE IT IS INCREDIBLE TO BE CLOSE TO A HISTORY THAT IS SO IMPORTANT AND A STORY THAT IS SO IMPORTANT.

>> THE FIRST INSTRUMENTS WE HAD IN OUR COLLECTION, WE ALWAYS KNEW ABOUT THEM, ESPECIALLY MY FATHER BECAUSE THESE WERE BOTH BY MY GRANDFATHER, STAYED IN OUR WORKSHOP AS A COLLECTION OF INSTRUMENTS SINCE THE 40S.

>> I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT THEY'RE CONNECTING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE IN SUCH AN INTENTIONAL WAY.

THEY'RE GETTING OUT OF THE TEXTBOOK, OUT OF THE CLASSROOM AND SAYING NO, SOMEBODY PLAYED THIS VIOLIN AND DIED IN THE CONCENTRATION CAMP AND THIS IS THE ONLY THING WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS OF THEIR EXISTENCE.

>> ONE OF MY BIG THINGS IS IN TAKING THESE VIOLINS TO THE SCHOOLS, THEY SEE IT, THEY CAN TOUCH IT, THEY CAN HEAR IT BEING PLAYED.

THEY, EACH VIOLIN HAS A SPECIFIC HISTORY AND WHEN YOU TELL A KID, LOOK, HERE IT IS, THIS IS WHERE IT CAME FROM, THIS IS WHO PLAYED IT.

YOU CAN TOUCH IT.

YOU CAN SEE IT.

NOW TELL ME THE HOLOCAUST DOESN'T EXIST.

>> THE VIOLINS ARE A PATH TO TEACHING SOMETHING THAT IS VERY HARD TO TALK ABOUT WITH ADULTS, NOT TO MENTION WITH KIDS I MEAN IT'S VERY HARD TO EXPLAIN, OBVIOUSLY, CIRCUMSTANCES THAT EVEN PROBABLY TEACHERS AND EXPERTS ON IT CAN'T FULLY INTERNALIZE.

WE CAN KNOW FACTS ABOUT IT.

BUT TO RELIVE THIS IS JUST BOTH AN UNREASONABLE AND UNBEARABLE TASK.

BUT THE VIOLINS GIVE US A WAY OF TALKING ABOUT IT THAT SHOWS NOT ONLY THE STRUGGLE AND THE CHALLENGE AND THE TRAGEDY BUT ALSO THE VARIOUS WAYS THROUGH THAT AND THE WAYS OF CONNECTING WITH IT.

BUT IT'S ALSO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT IN AN AGE WHERE PEOPLE CAN SAY ANYTHING AND OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SO MANY VERSIONS OF TRUTH OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.

THESE VIOLINS ARE TRULY TRUE.

THESE ARE IMPORTANT RELICS.

THEY HAVE MADE IT THROUGH SOMETHING THAT IS UNSPEAKABLE, BUT THEY'RE HERE AND THEY'RE STILL SPEAKING.

(LIVELY UPBEAT MUSIC) >> CAN YOU DO ME A FAVOR.

IT'S NOT IN THE PART.

IT DOESN'T SAY IT BUT I FEEL LIKE THIS IS IMPORTANT.

THE LAST MEASURE, WOULD YOU MARK CRESCENDO.

>> THIS CONNECTS US TO A TUMULTUOUS TIME IN HUMAN HISTORY AND YOU CAN'T DENY THE IMPORTANCE OF IT.

I MEAN THE PEOPLE WHO WROTE THIS MUSIC DID NOT SURVIVE THE EXPERIENCE.

THEIR MUSIC DID SURVIVE AND IT IS UP TO US TO CARRY IT ON.

>> THINKING ABOUT THE MUSIC OUTSIDE OF PLAYING IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IF I UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WERE WRITING THIS, AND THE PAIN THAT THEY WERE EXPERIENCING, IT HELPS ME TO UNDERSTAND THE PIECE AND TO PLAY IT BETTER OVERALL.

AND PLAYING ALL THE MUSIC, I DON'T WANT TO JUST SEE IT AS BLACK DOTS ON A PAGE.

I WANT TO SEE IT AS EMOTIONS BECAUSE THOSE NOTES ARE HUMAN EMOTIONS.

>> THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF MUSIC IS IT CAN TAKE YOU BACK TO 1944, TO THAT AWFUL PERIOD IN HISTORY.

OR IF YOU ARE DOING A BEETHOVEN SYMPHONY, IT CAN TAKE YOU BACK TO THE 1800s BECAUSE YOU ARE PLAYING THE IDEAS AND THE MUSIC OF THAT PERIOD.

IT ALLOWS YOU TO CONNECT WITH SOME OF THE EMOTIONAL STATES THAT PEOPLE HAD DURING THAT PERIOD.

AND THE IDEA THAT THESE STUDENTS ARE GOING TO GET TO LAY THEIR HANDS ON AN INSTRUMENT THAT WAS PLAYED BY THOSE MUSICIANS DURING THAT TIME IS SO POWERFUL, I DON'T HAVE WORDS FOR IT BECAUSE WE SO SELDOM GET THAT OPPORTUNITY.

>> THE IMPORTANT PART OF IT IS NOT FORGETTING WHERE IT CAME FROM AND KNOWING THE HISTORY BEHIND IT BECAUSE IF YOU KNOW THE HISTORY BEHIND IT, THEN IT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> STUDYING THE HOLOCAUST WITH MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IS VERY, VERY TRICKY AND OF SUCH GREAT IMPORTANCE.

AND PART OF THAT RESPONSIBILITY OF THE TEACHERS IS TO HELP GUIDE THE STUDENTS SAFELY INTO THIS VERY DIFFICULT, VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TOPIC.

>> THE KIDS FROM FLOYD CENTER ARE TRAVELING OVER TO LOUISVILLE NEXT WEDNESDAY TO SEE THE VIOLIN PRESENTATION WHICH THEY'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THAT EXPERIENCE AS WELL.

AND I STRUGGLE WITH THAT BECAUSE TYPICALLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THESE GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCES, THE MUSIC WE SAY ENJOYED, YOU WANT TO BE CAREFUL IN HOW YOU USE THAT WORD IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT SUCH GREAT HUMAN SUFFERING.

BUT I THINK THEY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS AND THEY'RE REALLY INVESTED IN GETTING IT RIGHT.

>> THE KENTUCKY CENTER IS HONORED TO BE ONE OF THE LEAD PARTNERS IN THE VIOLINS OF HOPE PROJECT AND YOU WILL HEAR A VIOLIN OF HOPE PLAYED TODAY BY SARAH... >> WHEN THE VIOLINS OF HOPE CAME TO LOUISVILLE AND I WAS ASKED WHAT KIND OF PROGRAM COULD THE KENTUCKY CENTER CREATE, I THOUGHT, I'VE GOT ONE.

WHAT IF WE DID ONE BUILT AROUND ULIACS VIOLIN AND BEETHOVEN'S VIOLIN CONCERT OWE IS BEING PLAYED ON A VIOLIN OF HOPE AS I READ THE WORDS.

>> THAT WHICH WILL NEVER PLAY AGAIN... ♪ ♪ >> SOMETHING LIKE THE VIOLINS OF HOPE HELP EXPAND STUDENTS' WORLDS TO SEE BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE AND SO THEY'RE SEEING THROUGH TIME, THEY'RE SEEING THROUGH GEOGRAPHY, THAT SUFFERING AND INJUSTICE AND OPPRESSION HAS BEEN A PART OF HUMAN HISTORY THROUGHOUT.

AND WITH THAT, THERE ARE STORIES OF RESILIENCE AND HOPE AND MY HOPE FOR A PROJECT LIKE THIS IS THAT STUDENTS WILL FIND STRENGTH AND COURAGE TO HAVE THE RESILIENCE.

>> I THINK EVERY PERSON IN THE ORCHESTRA AT THE END OF IT, THEY DO KNOW THE HISTORY, SO I THINK WE DO HAVE A MUCH DEEPER UNDERSTANDING AND VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THAT IN THIS SCHOOL SO WE UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE AND POWER THAT WE HAVE PLAYING THIS MUSIC; THAT MUSIC THAT THEY HEARD AS THEY WERE SICK AND DYING IS THE SAME MUSIC THAT WE ARE PLAYING TODAY.

SO I DEFINITELY THINK IT'S A HUGE BRIDGE BETWEEN PAST AND THE PRESENT.

I WAS READING ANN FRANK'S DIARY, AND IT SAID CHILDREN ARE COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL AND NOT KNOWING IF THEIR PARENTS ARE GOING TO BE THERE.

AND I SAT THERE AND I WAS LIKE OH MY GOSH.

LIKE THIS IS HAPPENING AGAIN.

>> THIS EXHIBIT IS A CONNECTION BETWEEN ONE OF THE MOST AWFUL TIMES IN WORLD HISTORY AND TODAY.

AND PEOPLE OFTEN SAY, THAT COULDN'T POSSIBLY HAPPEN AGAIN.

YOU KNOW, SIX MILLION PEOPLE COULDN'T BE KILLED.

THIS IS RECENT HISTORY.

IT HAPPENED IN THE LAST 100 YEARS.

AND WITH SOME OF THE PARALLELS GOING ON IN OUR SOCIETY NOW, SOME OF THE HATE THAT IS VERY EVIDENT IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY, YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF THE QUESTION COULDN'T IT?

COULDN'T IT HAPPEN AGAIN?

>> I THINK IT'S HORRIBLE TO FEEL LIKE ANY TIME I WOULD GO TO MY SYNAGOGUE AND PLACE OF WORSHIP, THAT I WOULD BE AFRAID FOR MY LIFE.

I THINK IT'S HORRIFYING THAT IF I HEAR A BALLOON POP OR SOMEONE DROPS A BOOK OR SOMETHING LOUD, I'M AFRAID THAT THAT'S GOING TO KILL US.

>> I THINK BY SPREAD AGO WEARNESS THROUGH MUSIC, WE CAN HAVE SOME PART IN CHANGING IT.

BY SPREADING AWARENESS IN MUSIC.

I FEEL LIKE MUSIC CAN HELP AMELIORATE A LOT.

MUSIC SURVIVED THROUGH THE HOLOCAUST AND THAT'S A REALLY HARD THING THAT MANY DID NOT SURVIVE.

AND LIFE IMITATES ART.

AND I THINK IF WE CAN, AS MUSICIANS, WE CAN HELP PUT FOCUS ON SOMETHING THAT ISN'T FOCUSED ON, IT WILL HOPEFULLY HELP THE SITUATION.

>> AS A METAPHOR, THE VIOLINS THEMSELVES WERE NEGLECTED AND SILENT FOR DECADES AND SO WHEN THEY RESTORED THEM TO WHERE THEY COULD BE PLAYED AGAIN, THEY ARE SINGING ONCE AGAIN AND WE ARE HEARING OUT OF THE SAME INSTRUMENTS, MUSIC.

AND SO THAT HISTORY IS GIVEN NEW LIFE AND THE STORIES OF THE PEOPLE WHO OWNED THEM IS BROUGHT INTO OUR LIVES.

SO WE REMEMBER BECAUSE OF THE VIOLINS ♪ ♪ THIS WHOLE INITIATIVE HAS BEEN SO AMAZING TO SEE THE MUSIC PLAYED, YOU KNOW, AT THE KENTUCKY CENTER FOR THE ARTS OR IN THESE CLASSROOMS OR AT THE UNIVERSITY, PEOPLE CLOSE THEIR EYES AND THEY EXPERIENCE THE MUSIC.

AND THAT IS A POWERFUL, POWERFUL THING.

>> I GUESS THE MARATHON SIGNIFICANCE OF MAJOR SIGNIFICANCE OF ALL OF THIS IS THAT THE HOLOCAUST DOESN'T BELONG TO ANY ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE.

IT AFFECTED EVERYBODY.

I THINK THAT WE HAVE TOUCHED A MUCH LARGER GROUP OF FOLKS THAN I EVEN ANTICIPATED.

>> I THINK IT'S FANTASTIC THAT THEY HAVE DECIDED TO CREATE AS MANY OPPORTUNITIES AS POSSIBLE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY BE OUT IN THE SCHOOLS LIKE THIS AND TO HAVE A YOUTH ORCHESTRA INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT.

I THINK IT SPEAKS VOLUMES TO THE MISSION OF THE VIOLINS OF HOPE AND I THINK THESE KID WILL BE IMPACTED BY THIS FOREVER.

>> THE VIOLINS OF HOPE WAS A GREAT REMINDER OF HAVING COMPASSION FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING, FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE OPPRESSED.

OF THE POWER OF THE ARTS, TO HELP PEOPLE HOLD ON TO HOPE.

>> I THINK HOPE IS JUST THE POSSIBILITY, THE ABILITY TO IMAGINE THAT THE FUTURE WILL BE BETTER.

>> I HOPE THE AUDIENCE WALKS AWAY WITH A LITTLE BIT MORE KNOWLEDGE AND I HOPE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND LIKE THROUGH THE PAIN AND THE MUSIC, I HOPE THEY CAN HEAR THAT AND UNDERSTAND JUST HOW MUCH PAIN THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH.

>> IT'S VERY EASY TO START HATE.

YOU KNOW WHERE IT STARTS.

YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHERE IT'S GOING TO END AND WHO IS GOING TO SUFFER.

IN THE END, WE HAVE ONE PLANET.

WE HAVE TO TRY AND THINK HOW WE CAN ALL MANAGE TO LIVE HERE TOGETHER.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THESE THINGS ARE NOT HAPPENING AND THE ONLY WAY TO DO IT IS TO LEARN ABOUT OUR HISTORY TO KNOW WHERE WE HAVE DONE WRONG AND WHAT WE'VE DONE WRONG, HOPEFULLY THAT IT WILL BE HAPPENING AGAIN.