Holocaust survivor, vocalist and educator David Wisnia and his grandson, composer and singer Avi Wisnia, will perform in concert at the University of Delaware at 7 p.m., Wednesday, April 11.

The concert will be held in Gore Recital Hall of the Roselle Center for the Arts on UD’s Newark campus. A question-and-answer session from 8-8:30 p.m. will follow the concert, with a reception from 8:30-9 p.m.

The event, “From Generation to Generation: Remembering the Holocaust Through Story and Song,” is free and open to the public. It is co-sponsored by the Jewish Studies Program and Hillel at UD, the Jewish Federation of Delaware, Halina Wind Preston Holocaust Education Committee and the Danielle Rose Paikin Foundation.

David Wisnia uses his voice to tell his story and performs internationally. Originally from Warsaw, Poland, he studied under the famous director and composer Maestro A.Z. Davidovich. Also a linguist, Wisnia has mastered Polish, German, French, Slovak, English and Hebrew, as well as Yiddish.

He is a survivor of Auschwitz Annihilation Camp, where he remained incarcerated for close to three years. He was able to save his life by singing to entertain Nazi SS officers and cell block leaders.

While there, he composed two songs, which are now on display at the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. Upon his escape, he joined the 506th Parachute Infantry, becoming both a survivor and liberator.

After over 40 years of serving as a cantor in the U.S., Wisnia recently retired. He is a member of the American Conference of Cantors within the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, and continues to be an active vocalist, educator and community leader.

Avi Wisnia is an award-winning composer, singer and educator. His inspiration mostly comes from Brazilian bossa nova, acoustic American folk, 1950s West Coast jazz and contemporary pop.

He has performed in prestigious venues across the world, including the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, the Kennedy Center in Washington and at concerts in Poland and Brazil. Avi Wisnia was most recently named Musician of the Year in his hometown of Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

In addition, Avi Wisnia uses music to give back to the community.

In 2008 he created the No Brainer Benefit Concert, which continues to raise funds and awareness for the National Brain Tumor Society. He also organizes and hosts events to benefit such groups as LGBTQ artists and Habitat for Humanity. He works with students, pre-school through high school, encouraging new enthusiasm for music through discussions, workshops and interactive performances.