Haim was written in 2012, inspired by the life of violinist David Arben, a Holocaust survivor.

Having remained largely silent about his past for decades, Arben chose to write his own story for this work — completing it in a single night, with one request: that his words be heard in silence.

That decision became central to the structure of the piece. Haim unfolds in two musical parts, separated by the reading of Arben’s testimony. The music does not accompany the text — it surrounds it, bearing witness.

Arben’s life was shaped by unimaginable loss, and yet defined by the violin, which quite literally saved his life. Through all that he endured, music remained a force of survival, identity, and ultimately, hope.

Writing this piece at the age of twenty-four, I felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility. Haim is, above all, an attempt to honor that story — with humility, and with the understanding that some truths can only be approached through silence.