Music of Remembrance and Hope to Be Performed April 7

The Syracuse University Regional Holocaust and Genocide Initiative, the Jewish Federation of CNY, and InterFaith Works of CNY have partnered to present a performance of “Kaddish: I Am Here”: Music of Remembrance and Hope in observance of Yom HaShoah, the official day of Holocaust remembrance.

Kaddish will be performed by the Syracuse University Oratorio Society with the orchestra Symphoria, conducted by John Warren, associate professor in the Setnor School of Music. The performance will feature guest vocal soloists Janet Brown, Lorraine Yaros Sullivan, Gerald Grey and Timothy LeFevbre.

The concert event will be held on Sunday, April 7, at 2:30 p.m. at the Crouse Hinds Theater, Oncenter Civic Center at 800 South State St. in downtown Syracuse. Tickets are free and required for entry; they are available at multiple locations on the Syracuse University Campus, downtown and at local synagogues. Transportation for students from campus to the Oncenter Civic Center will be available. Visit kaddish.syr.edu for ticket and transportation information.

Composed by Lawrence Siegel for chorus, soloists and chamber orchestra and using the actual words of survivors, “Kaddish” tells the story of the Holocaust in three distinct parts: before, during and after. The piece has only been performed twice with full orchestra, most recently at Yad Vashem in Israel.

By singing the words of Holocaust survivors, “Kaddish” creates empathy in its audience and brings to life a tragic time in human history. With its passionate story of the redemptive power of the simple virtues of daily living, “Kaddish” educates its audience about the horrors of this period in history and warns against similar realities in modern day society. With a triumphant ending, “Kaddish” depicts tragedy, but also engages the audience in the complex emotions of hope and victory over hatred.

Soprano Janet Brown, professor of practice in the Setnor School of Music says, “I think that the point of this work, and indeed any work of art that has to do with the Holocaust, is that the pain has to be revisited and felt so that we never forget how easily it all happened, and how we must keep working to never let this happen again. I am honored to be part of this performance.”