Sioux City Symphony to Play Holocaust Violins for Tolerance Week

Musicians will perform on restored instruments owned by WWII victims and survivors.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 11:18pm

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A bold, abstract silkscreen illustration featuring a repeated pattern of a single violin shape in a grid, rendered in a vibrant neon color palette with heavy black outlines, conceptually representing the musical instruments at the heart of the Violins of Hope project.The restored Holocaust violins, now symbols of resilience, will take center stage at Sioux City's annual Tolerance Week celebration.Sioux City Today

The Sioux City Symphony Orchestra will play a series of violins previously owned by victims and survivors of the Holocaust during World War II. The instruments, now restored, will be featured as part of the city's annual Tolerance Week celebration.

Why it matters

The Violins of Hope project aims to preserve the memory of the Holocaust and promote tolerance through the power of music. By performing on these historic instruments, the symphony hopes to share their stories and inspire the community.

The details

Sioux City Symphony musicians reviewed and selected the specific violins they will play for the Tolerance Week events. The old violins were found and renovated as part of the Violins of Hope initiative, which collects instruments that belonged to victims and survivors of the Holocaust.

  • Tolerance Week is an annual event in Sioux City that has been running for 23 years.
  • The Sioux City Symphony performances will take place next week as part of the Tolerance Week programming.

The players

Sioux City Symphony Orchestra

The professional symphony orchestra based in Sioux City, Iowa.

Violins of Hope

An initiative that collects and restores violins that belonged to victims and survivors of the Holocaust, with the goal of preserving their memory and promoting tolerance through music.

Gerald Weiner

The event organizer for Sioux City's annual Tolerance Week.

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What they’re saying

“The story was a number of these violins were found and they started to renovate them and they were called Violins of Hope and that is what Tolerance Week for 23 years now is all about hope.”

— Gerald Weiner, Event organizer

What’s next

More information about the specific Violins of Hope performances during Tolerance Week can be found on the event's website.

The takeaway

By performing on these historic Holocaust-era violins, the Sioux City Symphony aims to educate the community about the tragic past while also inspiring hope and promoting tolerance for the future.