On Saturday night, fourth-year College student Benjamin Levy's vision for the International Conference on "Music Suppressed by the Third Reich" culminated in a revival of an era of music not heard in more than 50 years.
Levy, a music major, organized the three-day International Conference as part of his distinguished music major project.
He drew his inspiration from studying World War II music under music Prof. Scott DeVeaux and later immersing himself in Executive Producer Michael Haas' Entartete Musik Series which features music banned during the Third Reich.
Last March, Levy started working on the conference after receiving money through a Raven Fellowship and the Mary Hall Betts Award from the University.
With College Dean Melvyn P. Leffler's help in establishing an account through the University's Development office, Levy raised $40,000 for the Conference. In addition, he raised $30,000 for last month's Andre Watts concert, organized through the Jewish Concert Series, which he founded during his second year.
"I wanted to study this music and share it with students, faculty and experts in the field," Levy said. "I wanted to go out with a bang my last year."
Over 600 people attended Saturday night's Gala Concert which included performances by the Hawthorne String Quartet, featuring Mark Ludwig, director and founder of the Terazin Chamber Music Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to reviving the music of composers who perished in the Holocaust.
"I have attended and participated in conferences around the world and this one is amongst the most memorable," Ludwig said. "I'm not only impressed with Benjamin, but proud."
The quartet played scenes from Hans Krasa's "Brundibar," an opera production performed more than 50 times at the Terazin concentration camp. Footage of the production later was used by the Nazis as propaganda throughout Germany.
In an encore performance, Ela Weissberger, one of two surviving "Brundibar" cast members, joined the University's Opera Workshop in a dramatic and emotional final scene.
At Terazin, Weissberger became familiar with the work of composers, musicians and artists who possessed a determination to continue their study and immersion in the arts in the face of severe conditions.
"I had the opportunity to meet and see fabulous musicians, and I have to thank them millions of times for what I am now," Weissberger said in a lecture series Saturday. "They gave up their lives for us kids."
Music department faculty praised Levy for his commitment to the conference, noting his determination to organize a world-class event at the University.
"Benjamin's contribution in creating this conference was really and truly exceptional," said Judith Shatin, Music Department Chairwoman. "It's unprecedented in the Jewish community."
"This conference benefited the entire University community and reached people from all over the world," Hillel President Shulamit Warren said.
Conference sponsors included the Music Department, Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, Kurt Weil Foundation for Music, Anti-Defamation League, Jefferson Literary and Debating Society and The Cavalier Daily.
"To know that someone from the younger generation is embracing this and is willing to commit so much time and energy added a special element to this conference," Ludwig said. "It's a tribute to U.Va. that Benjamin had the support to make his vision a reality."
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