South Carolinians

will hostthe world-renowned

Violins of Hope &Varna International’s Songs of Life

in

Spring 2022Myrtle Beach • Charleston

Greenville • Columbia

Remembering the Holocaustthrough the profound language of music.

www.ViolinsofHopeSC.org

In Spring 2022, South Carolina will host once-in-a-lifetime symphonic and vocal events featuring, for the first time together, two world-renowned musical organizations: Israel’s “Violins of Hope” and Varna International’s “Songs of Life.” Wrapped in music, the Holocaust-era remembrances will offer an eloquent, unforgettable experience for all communities across South Carolina.

Statewide musicians will awaken the Israeli-restored violins to pay tribute to their owners who perished or survived the Holocaust. Varna International’s performances will eloquently tell a little-known story about valiant Bulgarians who defied Nazi deportations and saved their 49,000 Jewish citizens from the Holocaust. The stories of hope, heroism, and honor will come to life through large-scale choral, orchestral, chamber, and dance presentations along with soloists, children’s choirs, a Bulgarian vocal ensemble, and local symphony orchestras.

The month-long events will take place in four South Carolina cities. Matched with lectures, educational events, and exhibitions, South Carolina audiences of all ages will long remember the inspiring stories which are monuments to bravery, sacrifice, and compassion.

South Carolina’s motto, “While I breathe, I hope,” will encompass new meaning in Spring 2022. The two world-class performance companies, Violins of Hope and Varna International, will combine to feature events abounding with songs, stories, orchestras, and violins. Uniting under the timeless emblem of South Carolina’s motto, these once-in-a-lifetime events will honor Jewish violinists who perished in the Holocaust and commemorate the rescue of 49,000 Bulgarian Jews from the Nazi death camps in 1943.

Varna International and Violins of Hope enjoy international acclaim. The four brilliant, gifted founders are Israeli violin makers Amnon and Avshi Weinstein, a father and son team in Tel Aviv, Israel. Sharon and Kalin Tchonev, Israeli and Bulgarian respectively, headquarter Varna International in Columbia, South Carolina.

“Our passion for the Songs of Life Festival comes out of the realization that had it not been for the miraculous rescue of Bulgaria’s Jews, I

(a Bulgarian) would not have my wife and son today since Sharon’s maternal grandparents were among the 49,000 Bulgarian Jews

rescued during the Holocaust.” –Kalin Tchonev

Influenced by the histories of their own countries–Bulgaria and Israel respectively–founders Kalin and Sharon Tchonev believe music has an important role to play in making the world more intimate, unified, and loving.

The world’s best venues- SPACES WHERE MUSIC SOARSRemarkable, Inspiring, Elegant, Breathtaking

A small sample of past Songs of Life venues:Bulgaria Hall, Sofia, BulgariaConcert Hall State Opera, Plovdiv, BulgariaPetah Tikvah Performing Arts Center, IsraelGerard Bechar Performing Arts Center, Jerusalem Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Washington DCAvery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, New York CityWang Theater, Boston, MAKoger Center for the Arts, Columbia, SCCharleston Music Hall, SC

Amnon is one of the most respected violin makers in the world.

The Beginning-Violins of Hope More than half a century ago, a Holocaust survivor walked into an Israeli violin restoration studio carrying his violin. The luthier, Amnon Weinstein, intently listened to his story, “Nazis forced me to play my violin while soldiers marched my people to their deaths. Would you restore my violin?” When Weinstein opened the violin’s case, he saw ashes. Shocked by what he saw, he was overwhelmed by the deaths of 400 relatives who perished in the Holocaust. Finally, in 1996, Amnon began collecting Holocaust violins and lovingly restored them. He dedicates his expertise to honor the memories of those who perished and to give voice to their stories.

Weinstein’s parents survived the Holocaust and moved to pre-state Israel in 1938 yet four hundred family members who stayed behind died in the Holocaust.

“The violin is considered to be the closest instrument to the human voice. Just thinking about the role violins played during the Holocaust makes us shiver as we feel, think, and identify with the victims.” –Amnon Weinstein, Luthier and founder of Violins of Hope

Amnon Weinstein CV, FounderKalin & Sharon Tchonev, Founders

Varna International & Songs of Life Violins of Hope

Mauthausen concentration camp orchestra, photographed by an SS officer | Credit: Digital Archive Yad Vashem

For additional information visit www.varnainternational.com For additional information visit www.violins-of-hope.com

Dr. James A. Grymes is an internationally respected musicologist and critically acclaimed author of Violins of Hope: Instruments of Hope and Liberation in Mankind’s Darkest Hour. As Professor of Musicology at the University North Carolina Charlotte, he observes, “During the Holocaust the violin assumed extraordinary roles within the Jewish community. For some musicians the instrument was a Liberator; for others it was a savior that spared their lives. For many, the violin provided comfort in mankind’s darkest hour.” - James A. Grymes, Violins of Hope (jamesagrymes.com)

Featuring exquisite, unforgettable performances with violins, song, dance, stories, orchestras, and educational events

The South Carolina Council on the Holocaust is proud to endorse the world-renowned Violins of Hope program which will combine with Varna International to offer statewide concerts and educational events in South Carolina in 2022. We are excited to help host this program in South Carolina and directly include schools, teachers, and students in this experience. Collectively, this program will serve as an indelible event in Holocaust commemoration throughout the state. In addition to the Violins of Hope program, the association with Varna International and its Songs of Life furthers this connection as they commemorate a specific story of hope, resistance, and survival of Bulgarians who defied Nazi authorities to save almost 50,000 Jews during World War II.

James A. Grymes

Amnon & Avshi Weinstein in their Tel Aviv, Israel workshop

“Wherever there were violins, there was hope. Our violins present the victory of the human spirit over evil and hatred.” –Amnon Weinstein

Visit our website below to sign up. You will receive a notification when the performance venue Box Offices begin to sell tickets for the events in your preferred location(s):

“It’s quite profound for an audience to hear the past cry out and see the performers react to holding these violins...Violinists say you can feel the very subtle imprint on a fingerboard of the original owner. They can physically sense the person who once played it.” –James A. Grymes, Violins of Hope

w w w . V i o l i n s o f H o p e S C . o r g

“Every concert is a victory!”Amnon Weinstein,

Founder Violins of Hope

“Bringing 300 superb choristers and instrumentalists on stage in what I can only

describe as an impeccably organized and magnificently directed performance, sets the highest possible standards for such events.”

Former Ambassador Elena Poptodorova, Bulgarian Ambassador to the USA

“Let us create beauty in excellence. Let us move cities together. Let us speak music to

the world.”Kalin Tchonev, Founder and Director,

Varna International

www.ViolinsofHopeSC.org

Visit our website below to sign up. You will receive a notification when the performance venue Box Offices begin to sell tickets for

the events in your preferred location(s):

Photo credits: Varna International, Violins of Hope, James A. Grymes (jamesagrymes.com),

Sponsorship Benefits

Statewide FestivalCo-Presenter*

City FestivalCo-Presenter**

LeadershipCircle

FriendshipCircle

$500

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$100

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$25,

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$10,

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$50,

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$5,0

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$2,5

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FESTIVAL SPONSORSHIP LEVELS

Private Concert featuring Violins of Hope and Philip Kutev National Folk Ensemble of Bulgaria

Artwork designed by Internationally recognized artist

VIP seats at the “A Melancholy Beauty” Concert 250* 50 30 20 10 6 4 2 2

Media Press Release, Print Advertising

Recognition from Stage

Invitations to the Blue and White Ball 40 20 16 12 8 4 4 2 2

Invitations to the VIP Post-Concert Reception 250* 50 30 20 10 6 4 2 2

Social Media and Website Recognition

Lobby Signage

Festival Program Book Ad Page 1 1 1 1/2 1/2

Festival Program Book Recognition

All ad spaces are full-color • All donors receive signed copies of VIOLINS OF HOPE by James Grymes

* State Festival Co-Presenter Sponsorship for the month-long City Festivals in all four locations (Limited to one; 100 VIP seats in one city; 50 VIP seats in each of the three remaining cities; inside front cover ad space)** City Festival Co-Presenter Sponsorship for the week-long City Festival in one of the four locations (Limited to four, one for each location, first-come, first-served basis for sponsorship and outside back cover)

* **

Sponsors a Violin throughout the state

Sponsors a Violin for one city

Sponsors a Bulgarian Singer for one city

Examples of what your gift will do:Sponsors a Bulgarian Singer throughout the state