The Defiant Requiem Foundation

The Defiant Requiem Foundation is a non-profit organization located in Washington, DC. Founded by Maestro James F. Sidlin, the organization employs four individuals. The Defiant Requiem Foundation preserves the memory of prisoners in the Theresienstadt Concentration Camp who, despite facing immense suffering, found solace in the arts. They achieve this through various initiatives, including screening their award-winning documentary film, *Defiant Requiem*, accompanied by a curriculum guide for educators. They also perpetuate The Rafael Schächter Institute for Arts and Humanities, both in the United States and Czech Republic. Additionally, the Foundation produces live concert performances, notably *Defiant Requiem: Verdi at Terezín* and *Hours of Freedom: The Terezín Composer*, and the theatrical production of *Mass Appeal, 1943*. These performances and projects aim to highlight the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Through artistic expressions, the Foundation showcases the courage of prisoners who chose creativity as a response to Nazi oppression, offering contemporary lessons on finding strength amidst barbarity. The Defiant Requiem Foundation can be reached via their website: defiantrequiem.org.