Milwaukee, WI (September 12, 2025) — When Festival City Symphony (FCS) takes the stage on Saturday, October 18, 2025, not only will it open its 2025–26 Saturday Classics season, it will bring together two powerful voices in a single program of remembrance and resilience: Violins of Hope and FCS Principal Cellist Dr. Stefan Kartman.
The concert, Hope, Resilience, and Copland’s American Symphony, will feature Violins of Hope – Wisconsin, a collection of instruments once owned and played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust. Meticulously restored, these violins are more than instruments; they are witnesses to history, carrying stories of courage, survival, and the enduring human spirit. Their Wisconsin residency, presented by the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO), brings them to Milwaukee for performances, exhibits, and educational programs from September 2025 through January 2026.
In addition, the concert will feature Dr. Stefan Kartman, FCS’s Principal Cellist and Professor of Cello and Chamber Music at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Kartman will perform David Diamond’s Kaddish for Cello and Orchestra, a deeply moving work of remembrance. With a career that has spanned acclaimed solo and chamber performances around the world, Kartman’s interpretation of Kaddish promises to be a centerpiece of the season.
“Bringing Dr. Kartman’s artistry together with the restored voices of the Violins of Hope makes this program truly special,” said Festival City Symphony Board Chair Marie O’Shea. “This concert offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience a performance of profound depth, one that conveys a story of memory, resilience, and renewal.”
The concert will also include Tomaso Albinoni’s Adagio, arranged for full orchestra by former FCS musician Ed Doemland, Sergei Prokofiev’s Overture on Hebrew Themes, and Aaron Copland’s monumental Third Symphony.
Concert Details
- Saturday, October 18, 2025
- Bradley Symphony Center, 212 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI
- 1:30 p.m.: On-stage discussion with the Holocaust Education Resource Center
- 2:00 p.m.: Concert begins
- Admission: Free with suggested donation ($14 for adults, $8 for students/seniors/children)
For ticket reservations and more information, visit https://festivalcitysymphony.org/.
Media Resources:
Journalists and media professionals are invited to access the official Festival City Symphony online press kit, powered by Green Onion Creative, which includes copies of press releases, logos, show flyers, previous concert season photos, and information for media coverage.
Media Contact:
Brandon Yahn
Operations Director
(262) 853-6085
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About Festival City Symphony
Festival City Symphony (FCS), Milwaukee’s oldest performing symphony orchestra, has been delighting audiences with accessible, family-friendly classical music for over 90 years. Under the baton of Music Director Carter Simmons, FCS presents high-quality concerts at an affordable price, welcoming both seasoned concertgoers and newcomers to the symphonic experience. Through its Saturday Classics series at the Bradley Symphony Center and its free, fun-filled Pajama Jamborees, Festival City Symphony is committed to enriching the cultural life of the Milwaukee community. Learn more at https://festivalcitysymphony.org/.