By Natalie O'Neill

A BROTHER and sister performed musical concerts to raise more than £12,000 for a Cricklewood based charity.

Erne and Hilda Svan played the violin and piano to crowds in Hampstead and Norwich in aid of World Jewish Relief, which helps people living in poverty and vulnerable Jewish communities.

The musical siblings are from Serbia and used to attend the music academy of Novi Sad after receiving a scholarship from WJR’s Connections Committee.

Since it was established in the early 1990’s, Connections has supported more than 400 students in Serbia, Macedonia and Bosnia.

Erne, 28, and Hilda, 27, both won numerous awards for their musical prowess and have performed in cities around the world. Erne is currently a violin teacher and Hilda is an accompanist at the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad.

The money raised will help WJR provide twenty scholarships for a full year.

Erne said: “The support of Connections has been invaluable in allowing us to develop our musical education and our careers. We are grateful to Connections for everything they have done for us and for other students in Serbia and we’re so thrilled to be able to contribute to the future of the committee’s important work.”

SadConnections Musical Evening

Connections invites you to its 19th Annual Musical Evening at a Private Home in Hampstead. This year's concert will be performed by Hilda & Erne Svan, graduates of the Novi Sad Music Academy, who have benefitted from Connections' scholarships over the past 5 years. The concert will include pieces by Beethoven, Brahms, Paganini & Tartini.

On 28 June Erne and Hilda Svan will be performing in a concert at The Assembly House in Norwich. Both performers are young musicians from Norwich's twin city of Novi Sad.

The concert has been organised by C.O.N.N.E.C.T.I.O.N.S which has been awarding scholarships to young people studying in Serbia for the past twenty years. Many of those supported live in Novi Sad, home to the Academy of Arts which has produced some outstanding young musicians. Erne and Hilda Svan have been supported under this scheme.

Previous performances in Norwich by young musicians from Novi Sad have been of a very high standard and most enjoyable and the programme for the evening should really show off their skills.

John Jarrold Trust supports young musicians
from Novi Sad

The concert will feature the following works for violin and piano
Tartini - - Devil's Trill
Brahms - Variations and Fugue on a theme of Handel
Beethoven - Romance in F
Wieniawski - Polonaise
Paganini/Kreisler - La Campanella
Tickets are available from the Norwich Theatre Royal Box Office on 01603 630000
The John Jarrold Trust has made a financial contribution to support this event.