Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center Announce Partnership for Korngold Performances
October 9–10 concerts pair music with opportunities to explore the composer’s life and historical context
MILWAUKEE, WI (9/30/2026)— The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (MSO) and the Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center (HERC) announce a partnership in conjunction with the MSO’s performances of Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s Violin Concerto on October 9–10, 2026, at the Bradley Symphony Center. MSO Associate Conductor Ryan Tani will lead the orchestra, with violinist Julian Rhee as soloist, in the program Made in America: Korngold & Rachmaninoff.
Through the partnership, patrons will have opportunities to learn about Korngold’s life and the Nazi persecution that forced him into exile. HERC will participate in Meet the Music, MSO’s free preconcert talk presented one hour before each performance. HERC will also present a gallery display in the Ellen & Joe Checota Atrium, with staff available to answer questions and engage with patrons.
For educators interested in bringing students to the concerts, HERC is also offering in-school presentations and educational resources to help students explore Korngold’s life, music, and historical significance. These materials and presentations will provide context for the concert experience and support learning about the composer and the impact of Nazi persecution on Jewish artists.
A Jewish Austrian composer and conductor, Korngold first traveled to Hollywood in 1934 for film work, returning to Europe between projects. He was working in Los Angeles when Nazi Germany annexed Austria in 1938, preventing his safe return. He lived the rest of his life in Los Angeles and became a U.S. citizen in 1943, building an influential career composing scores for films including The Adventures of Robin Hood and The Sea Hawk. His Violin Concerto draws on themes from his film scores, connecting his work in Hollywood with his music for the concert hall.
The collaboration brings Holocaust education into the concert experience, offering audiences a deeper understanding of the history surrounding Korngold’s life and music.
Winner of a 2024 Avery Fisher Career Grant, Korean American violinist Julian Rhee has earned international recognition through prize-winning performances at the Queen Elisabeth International Violin Competition and the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis. He has appeared with orchestras including the Stuttgart Kammerorchester, Belgian National Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, and Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.
An alumnus of the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO), Rhee joined at age eight and remained with the organization for nearly a decade. He won three MYSO concerto competitions, served as concertmaster of the Senior Symphony, and was a featured soloist on its 2017 international tour of Argentina and Uruguay.
Rhee studied with Miriam Fried at the New England Conservatory and currently works with Christian Tetzlaff at the Kronberg Academy. He performs on the 1699 “Lady Tennant” Antonio Stradivari violin and a Jean Pierre Marie Persoit bow, on extended loan through the Mary B. Galvin Foundation and the Stradivari Society.
Performances take place Friday, October 9, at 11:15 a.m. and Saturday, October 10, at 7:30 p.m. The program also includes Samuel Barber’s Medea’s Dance of Vengeance and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances.
For tickets and concert information, visit mso.org or call 414.291.7605. For information about HERC and its educational offerings, visit holocaustcentermilwaukee.org.
ABOUT THE NATHAN AND ESTHER PELZ HOLOCAUST EDUCATION RESOURCE CENTER
The Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center (HERC) teaches students, educators, and communities about the Holocaust, antisemitism, and the dangers of unchecked hatred. As the statewide leader of Holocaust education across 383 school districts, HERC provides resources ranging from conversations with Holocaust survivors to lesson plans to community programs that enhance our understanding of the Holocaust and the relevance of this history for today. Learn more at holocaustcentermilwaukee.org.
ABOUT THE MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is Wisconsin’s largest cultural institution and one of the nation’s leading orchestras. Since its founding in 1959, the MSO has performed more than 130 concerts annually, including classics, pops, family, education, and community programs throughout the state. The orchestra has premiered works by composers such as John Adams, Philip Glass, J.E. Hernández, Roberto Sierra, Marc Neikrug, Matthias Pintscher, and Dobrinka Tabakova, earning national recognition for artistic innovation. The MSO was also the first American orchestra to offer live recordings on iTunes.
In 2021, the MSO completed the restoration of a historic downtown movie palace, opening the Bradley Symphony Center. The venue has become a vibrant hub for music and community engagement, sparking renewal along West Wisconsin Avenue and serving as a catalyst for cultural activity in Milwaukee.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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