Mona Golabek, the Grammy-nominated artist, shares her mother’s journey from Nazi-occupied Vienna to wartime London through the multi-award winning film, performance, and conversation.
- Sunday, Nov 8 @ 5:00 p.m.
- Jewish Community Center of San Francisco @ 3200 California St
A young pianist escapes Nazi occupied Vienna on the Kindertransport, carrying nothing but her music and her mother’s final words. That act of love creates an artistic legacy that resonates across generations.
Screening includes a performance by the Grammy-nominated artist Mona Golabek, Q&A, and reception.
Hold On To Your Music: A Mother’s Legacy tells the true story of Lisa Jura, a gifted Jewish pianist whose life was upended in 1938 Vienna. Forced onto the Kindertransport at age fourteen, Lisa found her way in wartime London, sustained by the music she carried with her and the memory of the family she left behind.
Drawing on rare archival footage, newly digitized recordings, and the virtuosic performances of her daughter Mona Golabek, the film traces Lisa’s journey from prodigy to refugee to mother – and the enduring artistic lineage she passed on. Adapted from Golabek’s bestselling book and international stage production The Pianist of Willesden Lane (which garnered rave reviews at Berkeley Rep), the documentary brings new cinematic depth to a story that has reached more than 10 million readers and audience members worldwide through concerts, books, and 5,000+ performances.
The film bridges past and present to reveal a universal message: that memory, love, and music are forces powerful enough to sustain a life – and inspire generations. Directed by Oscar-nominated Josh Aronson and Emmy winner Adam R. Wood, produced by Susan Solomon Libitzky (Bay Area based) (2026, 77 mins). Presented in partnership with the JCCSF, Jewish Film Institute, and the JFCS Holocaust Center.
WHERE: Jewish Community Center of San Francisco
3200 California St
WHEN: Sunday, Nov 8, 5pm
TICKETS: $30 (general admission)
MORE INFO: www.jccsf.org/event/hold-on-to-your-music-a-mothers-legacy/
Watch the trailer here.