Musicians from the Long Island Concert Orchestra and the Long Island Choral Society performed a concert to honor the Jewish community Thursday night.

The "Violins of Hope" were the stars of the evening. The instruments were found all over the world and were once played by Jewish musicians before and during the Holocaust. Now, they bring powerful stories of resilience and hope all over the world.

“Ultimately, our statement is a statement of celebration…” said David Winkler, a composer and executive director of the Long Island Concert Orchestra. “It's a positive energy about going forward, learning from the past and then taking a step into the future in a very, very positive and celebratory way.”

The violins are also about education. Many of the instruments have Stars of David and other symbols engraved into the wood. On Thursday morning, more than 200 high school students from across Long Island got to learn about the history of the instruments and the role music played during the Holocaust.