Overview

The Simms/Mann Institute supported Hold On To Your Music Foundation and Mona Golabak’s theatrical production of The Pianist of Willesden Lane. Based on the best-selling book, The Children of Willesden Lane, the production tells the story of Golabek’s mother, an Austrian refugee who escaped the Nazis and went on to earn a name for herself as a musical prodigy and scholarship recipient at the London Royal Academy during World War II.

The Institute supported the production of the documentary I Am a Pianist, in collaboration with KLCS/PBS that follows concert pianist Mona Golabek as she brings her mother’s and grandmother’s stories to students and communities across America.

 

holdontoyourmusic.org

Desired Impact

The projects of Hold On To Your Music bring a unique perspective on the lessons of the Holocaust to students and audiences of the 21st century. Both productions and the work of the Hold On To Your Music Foundation illustrate messages of perseverance and understanding to enthusiastic young audiences, creating a legacy that resonates across generations.