University of Illinois Springfield Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology Yona Stamatis is featured in “Music of Hope”, a short-form video that won a prestigious Mid-America Emmy Award on Oct. 26, 2024. The video, produced by Julie Staley—a UIS doctoral student in public administration and the owner and CEO of Springfield-based Spencer Films—captured the Emmy in the Historical/Cultural Short Form Content category at a regional awards ceremony in Overland Park, Kansas.

"Music of Hope" tells the story of Jewish musicians who had their instruments taken from them during the Holocaust. Stamatis, a third-generation Holocaust survivor, shares her family’s history. Her grandfather, born in Germany, purchased a violin as a child. When World War II began, his parents secured visas for him to emigrate to the United States, but they were later killed at Auschwitz.

Before being sent to the camp, Stamatis’ great-grandparents buried some of their possessions, including the violin, in their garden, hoping the instrument could be recovered after the war. Years later, the violin was found and sent to Stamatis’ grandfather in the United States.

“It is an extraordinary honor to see the story of my grandfather and his beloved violin preserved in such a beautiful way,” Stamatis said. “In a time of extraordinary division, it is my hope that this film will emphasize our common humanity and serve as a force for unity, empathy and collective healing.”

Stamatis’ grandfather’s violin was featured in the Violins of Hope concerts in Springfield last year alongside other instruments that survived the Holocaust in the famed Violins of Hope exhibit. Musicians around the world perform with these violins, which were once silenced during the war.

“We are so grateful to have shared Yona’s family’s story with the public,” Staley said. “She entrusted us to tell this story, accompanied by the beautiful music she provided and played. We are honored to help keep this history alive.”

Staley also thanked the Jewish Federation of Springfield, specifically acknowledging Karen Westbrook and Nancy Sage, who appeared in the video. The Federation played an integral role in sharing the story and hosted the Violins of Hope event in Springfield, where Staley first learned about Stamatis’ family's history.

“This story is especially timely given the unrest in the Middle East,” Staley said. “This story offers hope for change through peaceful events and understanding.”

Staley is an award-winning journalist with an extensive background in television news, having worked as an anchor and reporter in multiple markets, including Springfield, Decatur, St. Louis and Kansas City. She also worked for CNN in Atlanta and the All News Channel in Minneapolis. She now serves as president of the Spencer Theatre Company, the Staley Museum in Decatur and the Staley Family Foundation. She is also a contributor and host for “In Focus,” which airs on WSIU-TV.