In 1933, my grandparents, my mother, Beatrice, and my Uncle Norbert fled Hitler's Berlin for Brussels, Belgium. In 1936 Norbert enrolled at the prestigious Brussels Conservatory of Music, where he was recognized as a singular talent who held the promise of becoming one of the world's greatest pianists. Then, in 1940, the Germans invaded Belgium. My uncle continued at the conservatory until 1942, when the life-threatening situation in Brussels finally forced the Stern family into hiding. At that point Norbert had no choice but to abandon his studies. Then on a winter's night in 1944, Nazis, informed of the Stern's whereabouts, broke down the door of the attic in which they were hiding and seized the family. Norbert and his parents were taken, while my mother, Beatrice, escaped out of her bedroom window to the freezing roof outside. The Sterns, without Beatrice, began the journey to Auschwitz where they ultimately perished.

In 2013 I paid homage to Norbert by recording an all Chopin CD called “Dedication”. The sessions were held at the Brussels Conservatory, on the very stage where Norbert  won piano competitions and received accolades.