For violinist Anna Lena Derocher, playing one of the Violins of Hope instruments was unlike any musical experience she had ever known. The instrument in her hands carried not only sound, but history — the story of a musician who lived through one of humanity’s darkest chapters.
In September, when Derocher and her stand partner first received the Haftel violin, she described the moment as “almost like a ceremony.” Seeing the instruments lined up and hearing the stories behind them filled her with a sense of responsibility and awe.
“It honestly just felt like such an honor,” she said.
Unlike her own familiar violin, the Violins of Hope instrument challenged her in unexpected ways. Every violin responds differently, and Derocher had only a short time to adjust to the instrument’s sound and mechanics before performing with it in concert. Some instruments were difficult to tune; others resonated in unusual ways. Yet those differences became part of what made the experience unforgettable.
“It was a completely new sound next to my ear,” Derocher recalled. “It resonated differently. It was really amazing to have a new experience like that and be able to hear such a powerful violin.”
As she performed works including Schindler’s List and Barber’s Adagio for Strings, at the Violins of Hope-Wisconsin grand opening, Derocher felt deeply connected to the other musicians around her. She described the performances as moments of shared listening, empathy, and unity.
For Derocher, the violin became more than an instrument. It became a voice from the past — one she felt privileged to help carry forward.
