Event Honoring the Memory of the Six Million Jewish Victims of the Holocaust will be preceded by a performance of the Symphony, Symphony Chorus & Vocal Soloists.
PHOENIX (Dec. 4, 2024) – In partnership with The Phoenix Symphony, the Phoenix Holocaust Association (PHA) will host its annual community-wide Yom HaShoah Commemoration at Symphony Hall on Sunday, April 27, 2025. On April 27, the Symphony’s concert at 2:00 pm will be followed by the Holocaust Remembrance Day commemoration at 5:00 pm.
Yom HaShoah, also known as Holocaust Remembrance Day, occurs each spring as a day of commemoration for victims of the Holocaust. The day is dedicated to remembering the millions of lives lost to Nazi persecution as well as reflecting on the courageous acts of those who resisted the brutal regime. 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the liberation of those who survived the Holocaust. “We are blessed to still have Holocaust survivors in our community capable of sharing their firsthand experiences, though we have fewer each year. Holocaust Remembrance Day is an opportunity to celebrate their resilience,” Sheryl Bronkesh, PHA past president.
“Hosting our Holocaust Remembrance Day observance with the Phoenix Symphony will enable so many within and beyond the Jewish community to see and hear from these sacred souls who
persevered in the face of the worst evil our world has ever known,” Rabbi Andy Green, Congregation Or Tzion and grandson of a survivor.
The PHA Commemoration will include a procession of local Holocaust survivors, a candle- lighting ceremony to remember the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust, a keynote address by a local dignitary, remarks by a survivor, an invocation by a local rabbi, music, prayers, and the presentation of PHA’s Annual Shofar Zachor Award for outstanding contributions to Holocaust and genocide education. The music will include a work by Gideon Klein, composed just days before his transport from Terezín to Auschwitz.
Phoenix Symphony Board Chair Adam Goodman spoke about the collaboration. “It is a privilege for the Phoenix Symphony to work together with the Phoenix Holocaust Association on this important event. We invite our entire community to join us, as we stand together in remembrance and unity.”
“We are grateful to have the opportunity to be part of this Holocaust Remembrance Day observance as survivors share their experiences and help us to learn, and to never forget,” said Symphony President and CEO Peter Kjome. “It has been incredibly inspiring to meet local survivors such as Oskar Knoblauch and Esther Basch, and it is an honor for us to participate with the Phoenix Holocaust Association in this way.”
Prior to the Commemoration, the Phoenix Symphony will perform Hindemith’s Symphonic Metamorphosis and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Hindemith was declared “degenerate” by the Nazi regime, and Beethoven’s ninth and final symphony revolutionized the symphonic form with vocal soloists and a chorus joining the orchestra to sing his setting of Friedrich Schiller’s poem “Ode to Joy,” celebrating the brotherhood of all humanity. Tito Muñoz, Artistic Partner and former Phoenix Symphony Music Director, leads four vocal soloists, Symphony Chorus, and orchestra in this orchestral masterpiece.
The Phoenix Holocaust Association is grateful to The Gerald Rosenbluth Family Fund, a component fund of the Arizona Community Foundation, for their support of this Holocaust Remembrance Day 2025.
Learn More and Participate
Sunday, April 27, 2:00 pm: Phoenix Symphony Concert at Symphony Hall
Sunday, April 27, 5:00 pm: Holocaust Remembrance Day Commemoration at Symphony Hall
For concert tickets, visit phoenixsymphony.org on the Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony page. Concert tickets are not required to attend the Commemoration, although our community is warmly invited to join the powerful musical experience that will be part of this important day.
To RSVP for Phoenix’s 2025 Holocaust Remembrance Day Commemoration, visit the Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony concert page or visit: https://phxha.com/remember/.
About the Phoenix Holocaust Association
As a partnership of Holocaust survivors, their descendants, and the larger community, the association honors the memory and legacy of the survivors and victims, promotes awareness of the Holocaust, provides education of this and other genocides, and contributes to tikkun olam, repair of the world. As a unique, regional resource for Holocaust education and remembrance, PHA promotes human dignity by inspiring people to speak out and take action against hate, bigotry, intolerance, and discrimination. To learn more, please visit phxha.com
About The Phoenix Symphony
The Phoenix Symphony is Arizona’s largest performing arts organization and one of the state’s most important cultural assets. In addition to performing traditional and modern repertoire in Symphony Hall and around the Valley, its world-class musicians are actively engaged in the community thanks to generous foundation, corporation, and individual support. The Symphony is strengthened by collaborating with renowned guest conductors and artists. The core mission of The Phoenix Symphony is to provide extraordinary musical experiences that inspire and advance our community, enriching the lives of people of all ages and backgrounds. Annually, borchestra members empower more than 100,000 students through education and partnerships and create opportunities for deeper connection for tens of thousands of adults experiencing homelessness, in Alzheimer’s care facilities, in hospitals and in hospice. Overall, Phoenix Symphony musicians traveled more than 14,000 miles across Arizona in 2023 to volunteer in Community Engagement and Education activities. To learn more, please visit phoenixsymphony.org.
