Midwest Premier: 
Bennett Gordon Hall, Ravinia Festival - Feb 24, 2013
Harris Theater at Millennium Park, Chicago – June 9, 2013

Educating the Community about the Holocaust through Music

To honor the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, a beautiful and important concert was performed for 500 survivors of the Holocaust, their families and Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall, England.  The music was “Annelies”, The Choral Setting of the Diary of Anne Frank composed by James Whitbourn.  
 
Richard Mesirow of Mesirow Financial learned of this project and was determined to create an opportunity for a US Midwest premier.  Through Mesirow Financial’s deep connection with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Mesirow Financial invited the Museum to become a partner in the project and to include a performance of this work as part of their 20th anniversary national celebration.
 
David Rotholz was selected to serve as the Executive Director representing Mesirow Financial and the US Holocaust Memorial Museum.  David led contract negotiations with the Ravinia Festival, the Harris Theatre for Music and Dance, and all of the musicians.  Selecting the Chicago Children’s choir offered a special educational opportunity for the students to learn about the Holocaust through the Diary of Anne Frank and through performing music based upon the original text.  David conducted a pre-concert conversation with the artists and composer to highlight the educational element of the program.
 
Rotholz served as Executive Director
Sponsors: Richard Price, Richard Mesirow, Mesirow Financial, and The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum