Dear friends,

I am deeply saddened to announce the passing of Holocaust survivor Frank Grunwald z"l. Frank was 11 years old when he and his older brother John were sent to Auschwitz concentration camp. The brothers discovered how to use their body as musical instruments in absence of their piano and accordion. In ghetto Terezin and Auschwitz concentration camp they began to improvise together Jazz music and popular songs: “We loved it. We’d sing songs that we knew...It was a lot of fun, a mental escape, it was wonderful. Whenever you could create some music with yourself, even your own voice, it would be very relaxing, up-lifting…”

Frank touched the lives and hearts of the many who were fortunate to meet him in person, or hear him tell his story of music and survival on screen. 

My deepest condolences to his family and friends. He will be incredibly missed.

With warm regards,

Dr. Nurit Jugend