News & Events:

Book News!

Janet recently received word that her book was named one of BookAuthority’s Best New Holocaust BIography Books of 2024. This is such an honor and is especially thrilling after recognition this year from the Independent Author and American Legacy awards.
 
 
Janet is thrilled to announce the third award in three categories for her book The Cello Still Sings. The 2024 American Legacy Awards honors the book in the Inspirational category, Performing Arts category: Film, Theater, Dance, and the Music category.
 
 
In other news we are pleased to announce that in early May the German edition of The Cello Still Sings was published.
Janet’s book received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews, and last December her book was chosen by Kirkus as one of the 100 best Indie books of 2023!
  
The Cello Still Sings: A Generational Story of the Holocaust and of the Transformative Power of Music, also won the 2023 Best Book Award from American Bookfest in the performing arts category. The book is available from Amsterdam Publishers and your favorite bookstore.

Janet’s award-winning book The Cello Still Sings is available now in an audiobook format. 

Janet is available to present for book groups/clubs. Please email her with your inquiries.

Recent Press:

  • “Janet Horvath’s cello still sings a song of discovery:
    —Red Rock News 
  • “A poetic, nuanced tribute to the power of music and family.”
    –KIRKUS starred review
  • Book review: The Cello Still Sings
    –The Strad
  • Honor and Honesty; Thoughts on “The Cello Still Sings”
    –Jewish Book World
  • “Nonfiction authors entwined with their subjects, and some medieval history, too”
    Saint Paul Pioneer Press
     –
  • ‘The Cello Still Sings’ tells of former Minnesota Orchestra cellist’s family connection to the Holocaust
    MinnPost
     –
  • How a father’s and daughter’s love of music unlocked memories of the Holocaust
    Toronto Star
     

Upcoming Events:

December 28 & 30 in Tucson AZ

Book Signing, Sale and Conversation
The Fletcher Pilates Studio
Saturday December 28th
10:00 am-12:00 pm
1980 E River Rd #250
Tucson AZ
 
 
Meet the Author: Presentation and Book Signing
Presented by The Center for American Culture and Ideas
Pima County Libraries
Oro Valley Library
Monday December 30
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
1305 W. Naranja Dr.
Oro Valley, AZ

Janet continues to make other presentations as well:

  • Creative Peacemeal Podcast coming soon!
    Guests from across the creative and fine arts world discuss creativity with the intent to inspire and spark curiosity with host Tammy.
      –
  • Cello Lab Sophie Webber February TBA 2025
  • Seminar series for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, University of Minnesota:

February 6, 2025: OLLI Shakespeare in Music course 2:30-4:00, Roseville Lutheran Church

February 13,2025: OLLI Shakespeare in Music course 2:30-4:00, Roseville Lutheran Church

February 20, 2025: OLLI Shakespeare in Music course 2:30-4:00, Roseville Lutheran Church

  • In March Janet will be presenting at the Music Teachers National Association during their Wellness day.

    March 15, 2025: MTNA Wellness presentation, Minneapolis, MN. 1:00pm
      –

  • More CSS presentations in 2025:

January 13, 2025: Private Book Event, Minneapolis, MN, 7:00pm

March 16, 2025: GAI Germanic American Institute, Saint Paul MN 10:00am

March 27, 2025: The Pillars of Prospect Park, Minneapolis, MN 2:00pm

May 1, 2025: The Goodman Lecture 2025, St Catherine’s University Chapel, St Paul, MN, 6:00pm

May 15, 2025: Temple Emanuel of Pascack Valley, Woodcliff Lake NJ zoom, 7:00pm 

May 21, 2025: private event White Bear Lake, Book Club, 2:00pm.

Seminars and Presentations

Janet is available on zoom or Facetime for injury prevention consultations, cello lessons, speaking about researching family history, and discussing her upcoming book.

Courageous Conversations

Janet enjoys leading discussions and is available to present to diverse groups, suitable for private events in your home, places of worship, community centers and gathering places, book club meetings, as well as at colleges and schools.

News & Events Archive:

October 2024 in Arizona

Janet is very excited to be traveling to Arizona in October to present there!

October 24, 2024
Arizona Jewish Historical Society
Phoenix, AZ

October 25, 2024
Sagewood Retirement Center Lecture Series
Phoenix, AZ

October 26, 2024
Red Rocks Music Festival, Mary D. Fisher Theater
Sedona AZ

Book Event

May 9, 2024
Abiitan Mill City, Minneapolis, MN

April 2024

Janet had presentations in April in Iowa including at the beautiful Caspe Terrace in Des Moines, IA sponsored by the Iowa Jewish Historical Society, the Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines, and Beaverdale Books, and at the wonderful Prairie Lights Bookstore in Iowa City IA.

On April 16, 2024: Members of the Minnesota Orchestra board of directors hosted a gorgeous afternoon tea and private book event to a lovely group of people. Conversations have been inspiring. .

On April 26, 2024: Janet was the Shabbat Pulpit Guest at Mount Zion Synagogue, St Paul, MN, and she also presented as part of a Holocaust Memorial Yom HaShoah program for JCHR LIVE on April 28.

Private Book Event

March 10, 2024

Private Book Event

Sarasota, FL

Book Signing Event

March 5, 2024
7:00 pm

Bookstore1, Sarasota
117 S Pineapple Ave
Sarasota, FL

Music Mondays, Sarasota Institute for Lifelong Learning

March 4, 2024

Presentation and Conversaton

10:30 am 
Church of the Palms
3224 Bee Ridge Rd.
Sarasota, FL

3:00 pm
Venice Presbyterian Church
825 The Rialto
Venice, FL

Book Event

In Honor of International Holocaust Day

January 25, 2024
11:00 am

ModernWell, A woman-centered Minneapolis coworking space

2909 S Wayzata Blvd
Minneapolis, MN

Book Signing and Presentation

Minnesota Friends of the Minnesota Orchestra Accent Series

January 18, 2024

Reception 6:00 – 6:45

Program: Music and Conversation
6:45 pm

Schmitt Music
7800 Harmony Dr.
Bloomington, MN 55439

Book Award Reveal and Signing

Celebrating The Cello Still Sings

December 16
10:00am

COMMA, a Bookshop
4250 Upton Ave S
Minneapolis MN

Presentation

November 7, 2023

luncheon Oakdale Golf & Country Club
Toronto Canada

Holocaust Education Week

November 2 – 9, 2023
Holocaust Education Week, 
Congregation Habonim Toronto

Wednesday November 8
5 Glen Park Avenue
Toronto, Canada

Book Signing and Presentation

Thursday, October 26
6:30 pm
 
Cherry Street Books Alexandria
503 Broadway Street
Alexandria MN

Book Event

October 4, 2023

Temple Israel Sisterhood Book Club
Minneapolis MN

Private Book Event

September 21, 2023

Private Book Event, Minnetonka MN

Meet & Greet and Book Signing

Please join Janet at Barnes & Noble to celebrate
Canada Day 

July 1, 2023
 1:00 pm 
Greenway Lakes Commons  
3216 West Lake St
Minneapolis

Private Presentation

Monday, June 26, 2023

Abiitan Mill City Facility

Book Presentation

 –
Thursday, June 1, 2023
6:30 pm – 8:00 om
 –
RSVP by May 29: 651-436-3500/
vickie@aftonhousehistoricalmuseum.com

Book Presentation and Class

Sponsored by the North Shore Senior Center
 –
Monday May 15
1:00pm – 2:30 pm
 –
North Shore Senior Center
161 Northfield Road
Northfield, Illinois

Book Launch Event: Presented by Temple Sinai Congregation of Toronto

Join us Friday, May 5 at 6.30 p.m. for a very special Kabbalat Shabbat service, followed by dinner with special guest speaker — musician, author and former Temple member, Janet Horvath.

210 Wilson Avenue
Toronto, Canada

Book Signing

April 4
7:00 pm

Presented by Excelsior Bay Books

Excelsior Bay Books
36 Water Street
Excelsior MN 55331

More information and registration (free via Eventbrite)

Jewish Genealogical Society of Minnesota

Sunday March 19, 2023
12:30 pm
Bet Shalom Congregation social hall
13613 Orchard Road
Minnetonka, MN 55305

Book Launch Event: Book signing and reading

Thursday March 2, 2023
7pm
Presented by COMMA, a bookshop
4250 Upton Avenue S
Minneapolis Mn 55410

Book Launch Event: Book signing, Transfer of Memory Exhibit

Performance and Presentation,
Janet Horvath cello, Heather MacLaughlin piano
Sunday February 26, 2023
4pm
Presented by Plymouth Congregational Church and
Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas
Plymouth Congregational Church
1900 Nicollet Avenue S
Minneapolis MN 55403

Audio Contest

Janet was an audio-documentary runner up for the 2021 Miller Audio Contest with her piece “A Musician Who Can’t Tolerate Sound,” hosted by the Missouri Review. 

Listen to the Miller Aud-cast episode here

Virtual Presentations

Children of Holocaust Survivors Group
Presentation about her parent’s experiences during the Holocaust
March 21, 6:00 pm CST
Oakland, CA

Prior to and as part of the April 8th annual Holocaust Commemoration Day
Yom HaShoah April 8, 2021 @ 6:00-8:00pm
Jewish Community Relations Council, JCRC
Minneapolis, MN
more information

Presentation

January 2020
Hearing Protection for Piano Teachers and Other Musicians seminar
KMTA Washington State Kitsap Music Teachers Association

Piercing the Silence: Unearthing Family Secrets & Holocaust Memories in Concert

 Janet Horvath, cello 
Heather MacLaughlin, piano

The original multi-media performance/presentation, produced and written by Ms. Horvath, includes narration, 180 projected photos, and cello interludes, which Janet performs. Discussion to follow.

Suitable for ages 10 and up.

Janet is available to present to diverse groups. Her piece is suitable for private events in your home, places of worship, community centers and gathering places, as well as at colleges and schools. An upright or larger piano and screen and projector are required.

Send a message to Janet to schedule a presentation.

MTNA National Conference 2020

Piercing the Silence: Holocaust Memories and Lessons in Concert


Thursday November 7th, 7:30 pm
Lloyd Ultan Recital Hall, Ferguson Hall
2106 South 4th Street, Minneapolis, MN
University of Minnesota
 
Janet Horvath cellist and speaker, with Heather MacLaughlin, piano
 
presented by:
Center for Holocaust & Genocide Studies
University of Minnesota
Co sponsored by the School of Music and the Center for German and European Studies
 
Janet Horvath events

George Mason University School of Music


Friday October 25th

George Mason University School of Music
Fairfax,Virginia
Master Class 12:30 – 2:30 pm
Injury Prevention Seminar 4:30 – 6:15 pm

Playing (Less) Hurt: Injury Prevention Seminar for Musicians

July 18, 2019
Seminar and Master Class
Franklin Pond Chamber Music
Location and times TBA
4835 Franklin Pond Road
Atlanta GA 30342 

More Information here

Playing (Less) Hurt: Injury Prevention Seminar for Musicians

Saturday, January 26, 2:00 – 3:30 pm 
Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies (GTCYS)
Winter Retreat
Hopkins High School
2400 Lindbergh Drive, Minnetonka, MN

 www.gtcys.org

Irving M. Klein International String Competition

Last June, Janet presented her injury prevention seminar and was a judge for the 33rd Annual Irving M. Klein International String Competition

California Music Center
San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Ms. Horvath served on the Jury to select the winners from some of the world’s finest young string players.
Its award carries the distinction that has helped many top soloists gain prominence in the competitive world of classical music

californiamusiccenter.org

Upcoming presentations:

June 5, 2024
Private Book Event, Edina, MN

June 12, 2024
Ham n’ Eggs Men’s Group Lecture series, Edina Country Club, Edina, MN

July 9, 2024
Women’s Club of Minneapolis presentation and luncheon, Minneapolis MN

August 21, 2024
BOND (Branching Out In New Directions) author event Oak Ridge Country Club Hopkins, MN

Book Event

May 6, 2024, 1 pm:
Marvella Senior Residence, St. Paul, MN

Book Event

March 6, 2024
10:30 am

Presentation and Conversaton

Sarasota Music Archives
1331 1st Street
Sarasota, FL

Book Signing and Presentation

International Holocaust Day

January 27, 2024
2:00 pm

Big Hill Books
405 Penn Ave S
Minneapolis, MN.

Private Book Event

November 7, 2023
7:45pm

Thornhill, Ontario Canada

Private Book Event

November 1, 2023

Private Book Event
Golden Valley, MN

Twin Cities Book Festival

Saturday October 14
MN State Fairgrounds
Progress Center 1615 Randall Ave.
 
Janet will be featured at David Unowsky’s table from 3 – 4 pm

Presentation and Class

Selim Center for Lifelong Learning
 
September 15
9:30 am
 
University of St Thomas
2115 Summit Avenue
Saint Paul MN 55105

Luncheon and Presentation

Wednesday, August 2, 2023
12:00 pm
 
2601 Chestnut Street
Wilmington NC 28405

Book Event and Presentation

Friday, June 23, 2023
Temple Israel during the Shabbat Service
6:00 pm
Temple Israel Minneapolis
2323 Fremont Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 

Pre-Concert Presentation

Hosted by Minnesota Orchestra

Thursday June 8, 2023
10:15 am
(open to public at 10 am )

Friday June 9, 2023
7:15 pm
(open to public at 7 pm)

Orchestra Hall
1111 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis

Ticket Info
(612) 371-5656

Book Signing

Presented by Indigo Books

May 6th
1:00 pm

Indigo Books
Eglinton and Yonge store
Toronto Canada

Author Presentation

Beth Emet Synagogue Lunch and Literature Book Club

Thursday, May 4
1 pm

Beth Emeth Bais Yehuda Synagogue
100 Elder Street
Toronto, Ontario 

More information and registration

A Daughter's Search for Her Father's Holocaust Story World Without Genocide

Tuesday March 21, 2023
7:00-9:00pm
Zoom webinar
General Admission $10. Student and Seniors $5.00

Book Launch Event: Book signing and conversation with special guest Deborah Keenan

Tuesday February 28, 2023
7pm
Presented by SUBTEXT books
 
University Club
420 Summit Ave
St Paul 55102

Tiny Love Stories, a Modern Love Project

Modern Love is a weekly column in the Style section of the New York Times, and is now a book, a podcast and in its 17th year as a television show. Tiny Love Stories, a Modern Love Project, asks contributors to share their epic love stories in 100 words or less.

Janet’s piece “No Ordinary Cake” was selected for the Sunday column in May of 2021 and then featured again on May 17, 2021 in the first section, under the heading Spotlight with this photo of Janet and her mother Katherine.

Read “No Ordinary Cake”

Piercing the Silence: Unearthing Family Secrets & Holocaust Memories Through Music"

Virtual Presentation
Tuesday April 6th, 12:00 pm
Diversity and Equity Success Department

Wellness for Musicians

March 30, 2021
Injury Prevention for Musicians
 

Forum

Ms. Horvath was one of three speakers selected to present to the American Joint Distribution Committee’s annual archives forum entitled: “Family Researchers and the JDC Archives: The Collection and the Impact on Families to This Day”
 
In order to begin researching her memoir, Janet traveled to New York city to delve into the JDC archives.
 
Her father George played morale-boosting concerts with the 17-member Ex-Concentration Camp Orchestra after World War II. Two of the performances in 1948 were with the eminent maestro Leonard Bernstein. In the archives she discovered four amazing photographs of her father with Bernstein and important documents. The JDC archives have a wealth of information for researchers. visit site

SZOMBAT Article about Janet's New Book

“Camp Concerts by Leonard Bernstein and a Hungarian Cellist” from Hungarian Jewish Political and Cultural Magazine, SZOMBAT

Read article on Szombat site (in Hungarian and English)

Read article in English (pdf)

SPCO Judge

Janet was a judge for the SPCO annual Youth Chamber Music Competition Finals, sponsored by the Friends of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra in March 2020.

Janet participated in a special event May 2018: International Jewish-German Week

The Wolf Durmashkin Composition Award and Leonard-Bernstein-Jubilee-Concert took place May 9 and 10, 2018 and featured Janet Horvath, as cello soloist, in Max Bruch’s Kol Nidrei with a Bavarian Orchestra.

During the transformative week of reconciliation and remembrance, three Jubilee Concerts celebrated the 100th anniversary of legendary maestro Leonard Bernstein’s birth, and commemorated concerts held at the displaced persons camp in Landsberg, Germany, 70 years ago.

After the Second World War, seventeen musicians, including cellist, George Horvath, Janet’s father, all Holocaust survivors, formed the St Ottilien Orchestra and performed morale-boosting concerts in Bavaria. Two performances conducted by Leonard Bernstein were held in Landsberg in May 1948, for 5,000 DPs. Janet's performance 70 years later, in Germany, where her father played, where thousands of stateless persons languished after the horrors of the war, had special significance to her family and to other invited guests who were born in the Landsberg DP camp, and whose parents had been displaced persons there.  

Other events included the creation of The Wolf Durmashkin Composition Award for composers under the age of 35. Three prize-winning compositions were performed during the commemoration. 

See official flyer (in German)

More information: 

May 10, 1948 concert
May 10, 2018 concert 

 

A Silenced Legacy – Honoring the Music and the Musicians

Tuesday, February 26, 7:30 pm
Temple Chai, North Phoenix, AZ

Janet performs a variety of chamber music and solos, as part of a 6-piece  ensemble. She will also speak about her father and unearthing family secrets.

Arizona Musicfest 'Violins of Hope'

Saturday, February 23, 8:00 pm
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, AZ

Sunday, February 24, 3:00 pm
La Casa de Cristo Church, North Scottsdale, AZ

The Festival Orchestra performs with Gil Shaham, violin soloist.

The Violins, which were played during the Holocaust in ghettos and concentration camps, and painstakingly restored by luthier Amnon Weinstein, will be featured.

Download flyer here

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