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Shorewood orchestra students describe playing "Violins of Hope" instruments and museum visits
Summary
Students and teachers told the Shorewood School District board about the Violins of Hope residency, visiting the Jewish Museum and performing on restored instruments; students called the experience emotionally powerful and educational.
Shorewood High School orchestra students told the school board on Feb. 10 about a months-long residency with Violins of Hope Wisconsin and related field trips that included visits to the Jewish Museum and performances on restored instruments.
The presenter (orchestra staff) framed the residency as a partnership with the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Weinstein violin makers, saying, "These instruments bear witness to history rising again, stronger and more vibrant, a testament to survival, hope, and the resilience of the human spirit." Teacher and student chaperones arranged museum tours, docent-led talks and a presentation featuring a Holocaust survivor that the students said deepened the program’s educational impact.
"It's such an honor to be able to carry on this legacy," said Annalena Deroscher, a Shorewood High School sophomore, describing playing multiple restored violins and the emotional weight of performing music tied to individual stories from the Holocaust. Freshman Charlie Kenny said the museum tour and survivor testimony were "very, very impactful" and added that seeing artifacts and hearing personal accounts made the history more meaningful.
Senior Peter Hagg described the students’ exposure to klezmer music and the opportunity to work with visiting professional musicians, noting the residency included instruction and two concerts that broadened students’ musical styles and repertoire.
Board members praised the students’ presentations. One committee member said the program was "the best way to combat" rising antisemitism and another joked about canceling the rest of the meeting to attend the orchestra concert, which was scheduled for 7 p.m. the same night.
The presentation highlighted district arts programming, student learning tied to community partnerships and plans for additional performances and educational outreach tied to the residency.
