Jewish Music Institute

The Jewish Music Institute were awarded the David Bedford Music Education Award in the September 2013 round of funding for their project to commission composer Jocelyn Pook (pictured) to create a new musical work inspired by ‘I never saw another butterfly’, the striking collection of poems and drawings of the children who were imprisoned in the notorious Terezin concentration camp under the Nazis.

Sophie Soloman, the Artistic Director of JMI, told us:

“We are thrilled to have been awarded this prestigious award for our commission of a new work inspired by the poems and drawings of the child inmates held in Terezin by the Nazis. It is very inspiring that the Jewish Music Institute’s artistic and educational vision has been recognised by the PRS for Music Foundation in this way. We are excited to be working with a brilliant creative team including composer Jocelyn Pook, dramaturg Emma Bernard and visual artist Dragan Aleksic  and world-renowned artists to create a paradigm-shifting cross-disciplinary performance that will challenge both artists and audience to experience the act of remembrance in a new way. Enabling young audiences to learn and understand more about the holocaust is central to this and we will be creating a powerful educational programme that brings to life the story of Terezin concentration camp through music.”

About Jewish Music Institute (JMI)

JMI is the home of Jewish music in the UK. They are dedicated to the celebration, preservation and development of the living heritage of Jewish music for the benefit of people of all ages and backgrounds.

Their goal is to inform and inspire audiences with an exciting original programme of live performances, educational events and collaborative projects. They also support musicians playing Jewish music across the UK, enabling them to preserve traditional heritage, create new work and reach the widest audiences.