A Violinist’s Christmas Wish: Bringing Music and Hope to Children in Need
Strings For Change
For Hungarian violinist Bernadett, music has always been about more than performing. It’s about connecting with people, touching hearts and sometimes making life a little brighter for someone who needs it most. This December, she’s turning that belief into something special with Strings For Change, a holiday benefit concert at Teatro Trail in Coral Gables, bringing together celebrated musicians, friends and families for an evening dedicated to the children of His House Children’s Home. The concert will feature GRAMMY®-nominated vocalist Deborah Silver, fresh off her Carnegie Hall debut, GRAMMY®-winning musician Marlow Rosado, musical director Juan Tobón, a live band, young performers and a few surprises Bernadett is keeping under wraps.
But behind the music is a much more personal story. A few years ago, shortly after becoming a mother, Bernadett visited His House Children’s Home, an organization that cares for vulnerable children. She brought her violin and played for the children, never imagining how deeply that afternoon would affect her. She couldn’t stop thinking about the children she had met. Their faces, their stories and the simple joy they experienced while listening to her music stayed with her long after she returned home. Now she’s volunteering her time, calling on fellow musicians and friends, and pouring her heart into producing a concert that she hopes will bring those children some extra love and happiness this Christmas.
Net proceeds from ticket sales will benefit His House Children’s Home, helping provide essential care and meaningful experiences for the children. Bernadett also hopes the concert will inspire additional donations and holiday generosity. And she’s asking every audience member to give something that doesn’t cost a penny: a handwritten Christmas card to a child who could use a little encouragement and love.
For Bernadett, that simple gesture may be just as meaningful as the music itself. We spoke with the violinist about the inspiration behind Strings For Change, the artists joining her onstage and why this Christmas means so much to her.
Strings For Change
What inspired you to create Strings For Change, and why did you choose His House Children’s Home?
All my life, I’ve believed that music can heal. Growing up in Hungary, I took part in many charity concerts, and those performances always meant something special to me. When I moved to America, I knew I wanted to continue helping through music here. Then I visited His House and met the children. Suddenly, that wish had faces and names. I kept thinking about them after I went home, wondering what more I could do. Eventually, that became Strings For Change.
How did you first become involved with His House? Was there a particular moment that stayed with you?
A friend brought me to His House a few years ago. My son was less than a year old at the time, and I think becoming a mother made that visit even more emotional. I had this little baby at home who was loved and protected, and I was meeting children who had already experienced things no child should have to go through. I brought my violin and played for them. Seeing their faces change as they listened touched me so much. I went there as a visitor, but I came home feeling connected to those children. I knew I wanted to come back and do more.
How will the money raised from the concert help the children? Will it also provide Christmas gifts?
The net proceeds from ticket sales will go to His House Children’s Home to help support the children they care for. That means everyday essentials, but also opportunities and first-time experiences that every child deserves to have. The holidays are what bring us together for this concert, but my hope is that the help will reach further than one morning. These children deserve to feel safe, cared for and remembered throughout the year. I would love for this evening to be part of making that possible.
You’re also inviting concertgoers to write personal Christmas messages to the children. How did that idea come about?
This means so much to me. David Castrillion at His House told me how deeply the children treasure personal messages. Some keep them on their walls and read them over and over. When you hear that, you realize how much a few words can mean to a child who may not have family there to say them. Before the concert, we’ll have a little “message corner,” where guests can choose a child’s name and write a personal card. Those cards will be delivered to the children on Christmas morning. I love that everyone can take part. Not everyone can become a sponsor or make a large donation, but everyone can sit down for a moment and write something kind. Imagine being a child on Christmas morning and opening a message from someone you’ve never met: “I’m thinking of you. You matter. I wish you a beautiful future.” To us, it might be a small gesture. To the child holding that card, it could mean being remembered. I think about that a lot.
Tell us about the concert. What can audiences expect? Will it be traditional Christmas music, or something completely different?
Oh, I’m really excited about the show! I don’t want people to imagine a traditional Christmas concert where everyone sits quietly listening to holiday songs for two hours. Of course, we’ll have beautiful Christmas and holiday favorites, but we’ll also have powerful arrangements, different musical styles and plenty of surprises. I’m a classical violinist by training, but throughout my career I’ve performed everything from classical music to pop, Latin, rock and electronic music. I love bringing those styles together, and that’s what I want to share with this audience. We’ll have a wonderful live band, incredible guest artists and children performing as well. There will be moments when I hope people get emotional, and others when I hope they want to get out of their seats! I want to create a beautiful, high-energy musical production that people will remember, while keeping the children and the spirit of giving at the heart of the evening.
Strings For Change
You’ve brought together some wonderful talent, including Deborah Silver and Marlow Rosado. How did they become involved, and are there any surprise guests?
It means so much when artists you admire say yes to something so close to your heart. Deborah Silver is a GRAMMY®-nominated singer and a dear friend of mine. She has a beautiful voice, but what I especially love is the warmth she brings to an audience. She just made her Carnegie Hall debut, and I’m so thankful she’ll be sharing her talent with us for the children. GRAMMY®-winning artist Marlow Rosado will also be joining us. He brings such life and energy to a performance, and I’m excited for the audience to experience that. Our musical director, Juan Tobón, is helping me bring all these different voices together with our live band. And having children involved in the performance makes the evening even more special to me. I’ll keep a few surprises for the show. We have to leave something for December!
Strings For Change
Strings For Change will take place this December at Teatro Trail in Coral Gables, Florida. Net proceeds from ticket sales will benefit His House Children’s Home. The family-friendly concert will feature Bernadett, Deborah Silver, Marlow Rosado and special guests.
For tickets, visit: https://stringsforchange.org/