Sandor (Shony) Alex Braun (Cristuru-Secuiesc, Romania, 14 July 1924[1]– Los Angeles, 4 October 2002)[2] was a Hungarian (Romanian born) violinist, Holocaust survivor, classical composer and actor. He also played bit parts in the TV shows Perry Mason, WKRP in Cincinnati and the film '68.[3] He died of pneumonia on 4 October 2002.[4][5]

Early life

Shony Alex Braun was a violin prodigy. At age 13, he and his family were sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp. He was moved to several camps and ended up in Dachau where he would regularly play the violin for SS officers in exchange for extra food rations.[6] After the Holocaust he married Shari Mendelovitz, also a Holocaust survivor, and resumed his violin studies. He emigrated to the United States in 1950.[7] He composed the "Symphony of the Holocaust" and performed it with a live orchestra in 1992 in Dayton, Ohio. He recorded 11 albums of continental and Gypsy music. Many of the compositions were his original works.

References

  1. "Shony Alex Braun (1924-2002) - Find a Grave..." www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  2. "SANDOR (SHONY) ALEX BRAUN". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
  3. Shony Alex Braun
  4. Claire Vereczky Malis. "Services held for local violinist". The Acorn. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17.
  5. Los Angeles Times - Obituary: Shony Alex Braun, 70; Violinist, Composer Survived Holocaust"
  6. Brown, Kellie D. (2020). The sound of hope: Music as solace resistance and salvation during the holocaust and world war II. McFarland. p. 40. ISBN 978-1-4766-7056-0.
  7. Vanderknyff, Rick (1986-12-05), "Gypsy-inspired : Holocaust Survivor To Perform", Los Angeles Times

Sources

Shony Alex Braun with Emily Cavins, My Heart is a Violin: the Biography of Renowned Violinist and Holocaust Survivor, Shony Alex Braun, Author House, 2002

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