A film showcasing the work of SageArts with Holocaust survivors
Songs of Survivors
↗ Watch the official trailer
“Many moments brought me to tears. At a time like this, a documentary this poignant and important needs to be made and seen!”
Nationwide Premiere
April 26 · 8 PM · PBS
The film ‘We Remember: Songs of Survivors’ showcases the work of SageArts’ work with Holocaust Survivors in 2018-2019.
After seeing a concert we produced honoring women leaders in 2017, Jewish Family Service of Orange approached SageArts with a proposal to honor local Holocaust Survivors — to bring their stories of survival to life in song.
With funding from the Jewish Federation of North America and the Holocaust Remembrance Fund, SageArts and JFS Orange paired 8 songwriters with Holocaust Survivors in Ulster, Dutchess, Orange, and Rockland counties of NY, and produced a public concert at Mary Mount College in May 2019 to an enthusiastic crowd of more than 600 people.
This documentary film highlights the relationships and behind-the-scenes collaboration of 4 pairs of songwriters and survivors, as well as a part of the final performance of their songs.
Songwriter + Survivor Duos:
Michael with Rita, Kelleigh with Tibor, Friede with Elizabeth, and Jude with Tommy and Suzanne
Support us in honoring elders
SageArts is dedicated to bringing forth the voices of all elders in our community. Our community is composed of amazing elders with deeply diverse backgrounds and experiences. Please help us expand our work with more diverse keepers of wisdom.
The SageArts creative team poses backstage before their concert honoring the lives of Holocaust Survivors
Filmmakers and producers Tim Miller and Ilene Cutler
Meet the Filmmakers
Many documentaries exist about the Holocaust. But ‘We Remember: Songs of Survivors’ documents a unique approach — with behind-the-scenes footage of songwriters meeting with survivors to hear their stories and collaboratively write a song together. The filmmakers weave a beautiful tapestry among these survivor stories, building up to the powerful culminating concert.
“We’re honored to shed light on this moving + powerful project.”
Hear the Music
See finished performances + the full lyrics from the 8 songs — the culmination of a months-long songwriting process — in an emotional live concert where the survivors and songwriters are celebrated by friends, family and the community.
↗ Watch Concert Highlights
Singer/songwriter Kelleigh McKenzie performs ‘“All is Changing, We are Witness, We are Life” at the concert honoring Holocaust Survivors in May 2019
Bringing forth the lived experiences + sacred stories of our elders
Making Wisdom Matter
At SageArts we believe in the power of story and the arts to bring people together. We start with the creative process, pairing writers, singer/songwriters, with elders in our community to create inspired works of performed art that reflect the richness of each elder’s life and character, and we finish the process with a final performance and celebration, inviting the community to take part in a transformative experience to remember.
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