The Violin Maker
April 23 – May 11, 2025
International City Theatre (ICT), Long Beach
AN AMERICAN PREMIERE
Based on the Stories from the Violins of Hope
Israeli violin maker Amnon Weinstein, founder of the Violins of Hope collection, restored violins played during the Holocaust. He died in 2024 at age 84, but his extraordinary story, and the true stories of the violins, are masterfully interwoven with music in this powerful and uplifting play.
By Lisa Pearl Rosenbaum and Ronda Spinak;
Music Curation by Dr. Noreen Green;
Directed by caryn desai
Featuring Onstage Musicians
Dr. Noreen Green, Piano
Jonathan Rubin, Violin
Jonathan Rubin has been a professional freelance violinist in Los Angeles since the age of 15, when he performed in the long-running musical Belz! at the Callboard Theatre. Over the years, he has cultivated a multifaceted career as a violinist, violin dealer, educator, disability-rights advocate, husband, and father. For more than two decades, Mr. Rubin has overseen sales and customer service at Robert Cauer Violins.
Since 1994, Jonathan has been a dedicated member of the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony, and since 1983, he has proudly served as a founding faculty member of the Kadima Conservatory of Music. His performances have graced many significant Jewish events, including synagogue services, Violins of Hope, the Israeli Embassy, AIPAC gatherings, and the Israeli Festival.
As a freelance performer, Mr. Rubin has collaborated with an array of influential figures, such as Michael Tilson Thomas, Steve Allen, Carl Reiner, Andrea Bocelli, and Theodore Bikel.
A passionate educator, Jonathan has maintained a private teaching studio for over 40 years, instructing students of all ages and abilities, including neurodiverse and neurodivergent individuals ranging from 4 to 90 years old.
