August 3rd 2026 | ZOOM | 12 PM EST
In addition to committing genocide against the Jews, the Nazis committed genocide against the Roma and Sinti. It is estimated that up to 500,000 Roma and Sinti people were murdered, and many more were subjected to forced labour, violence, and medical experimentation.
To mark Romani Genocide Remembrance Day, join us on August 3rd at noon EST for a virtual discussion with Ion Zanca, founder of Dallas String Quartet and composer behind, “ROMANI: The Untold Story,” and Dr Petra Gelbart, a Romani educator, scholar, and musician.
While visiting the Dachau Concentration Camp in Germany, Ion Zanca, discovered a cruel chapter of his own heritage. Amidst the barbed wire and walls of the museum, he stumbled upon a section dedicated to the Romani people, his ancestors, whose stories had long been shrouded in silence. Although raised in Romania, this was the moment Zanca learned of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Policy declaring all Romani, “lives unworthy of living.”
In crafting this musical tribute, Zanca endeavored to shed light on their untold story, inviting listeners to join in the rediscovery of a history, a group of people who deserve acknowledgment and remembrance.
In collaboration with the London Symphony Orchestra, each of the album’s five songs are thoughtfully represented by a chapter, unveiling this vicious period in history, while simultaneously showcasing the indomitable spirit, heart, and profound love for music that defines the Romani people.
Free reservations are required through Jlive.
This event is being run in partnership with the Canadian Romani Alliance, the World Roma Federation and the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre.