The Springfield Symphony Youth Orchestra Promotes Music for Peace at the Pioneer Valley Jewish Film Festival

The Springfield Symphony Youth Orchestras (SSYO) and the Pioneer Valley Jewish Film Festival (JFF) are joining forces to present a unique evening of music and film Wed., April 2, 2008, 7 p.m. in Northampton‘s Academy of Music.

Kevin Rhodes, Music Director of the Springfield Symphony and Judi Wisch, Executive Director of the Jewish Film Festival have been working on the collaboration of the two organizations to help promote Music for Peace.

Rhodes said, “Music is a great force for good, for the bringing of people together. We are thrilled to be working with the JFF on this project.”

Jonathan Lam, SSYO conductor will lead the Orchestra in Antonin Dvok’s Slavonic Dances 1 and 8, and an overture by the romantic composer, Carl Maria von Weber . Lam said, “He and the Orchestra feel so privileged to perform at the JFF preceding such an extraordinary documentary Knowledge is the Beginning.”

Knowledge is the Beginning, the documentary

World-renowned conductor Daniel Barenboim and late Palestinian scholar Edward Siad generated controversy and admiration with the founding of their West-Eastern Divan Orchestra in 1999. The documentary follows their unique musical collaboration, dedicated to furthering the cause of peaceful coexistence in the Middle East, bringing together young musicians from both sides of the divide: Syrians, Jordanians, Egyptians, Palestinians and Israelis.

Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance by calling Pioneer Valley Jewish Film Festival at 413-739-4715 [All Ages] (>$)

The full Festival schedule is available at www.ValleyJewishFilm.org.