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A boy plays the violin for a group of children gathered in a sun-dappled clearing, with a rustic house and fence in the background.
Text reads: Pioneer Fiddles in large white letters with a shadow effect, above The Soundtrack of the Gathering to Zion in bold yellow capital letters on a white background.
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Musical instruments were a significant part of the pioneer’s journey as they crossed the plains to the Salt Lake Valley. The instruments were sturdy, portable, and at the heart of every gathering. The musicians who carried them laid the foundation for the Utah Symphony | Utah Opera’s earliest iteration in 1892. 

Utah Symphony | Utah Opera is interested in knowing about those instruments and the stories they carry. Ahead of Temple Square’s reopening in 2027, we are showcasing fiddles, violins, and other family instruments with a connection to Utah’s history for an exhibition in the lobby of Abravanel Hall and around downtown Salt Lake City, and to honor the families behind them. Selected stories will be preserved through a collaboration with StoryCorps. Where possible and if given permission by their current owners, select instruments will be evaluated and expertly restored to playing condition. 

Woodcut-style illustration of a person playing a violin. The image shows the person’s torso, left hand on the fingerboard, and bow held in the right hand, with detailed linework emphasizing texture.