Anne Sebba to Speak on 'The Women's Orchestra of Auschwitz'
The Arts Society Chiswick hosts talk on a remarkable WWII story
From the cover of Anne Sebba's book on the subject
January 24, 2026
The Arts Society Chiswick will welcome author and biographer Anne Sebba next month for a talk exploring one of the most remarkable and little-known stories of the Second World War: the Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz.
The event takes place at POSK on King Street in Hammersmith on Thursday 12 February at 8pm.
The talk will examine the extraordinary group of 47 women and girls who, in 1943, were ordered by SS officers at Auschwitz-Birkenau to form an orchestra inside the camp. Forced to play as prisoners marched out to work each morning and returned each evening, the musicians also performed weekly concerts for Nazi officers and were sometimes required to play individual pieces on request. For most of the women involved, participation in the orchestra ultimately saved their lives.
The evening will explore themes of female solidarity, the sustaining power of music and the resilience required to survive in the most brutal of circumstances. Anne Sebba’s work on the subject forms part of her wider writing career, which has focused on complex and influential women throughout history. A former Reuters foreign correspondent, she is the author of numerous acclaimed biographies including That Woman: The Life of Wallis Simpson, Ethel Rosenberg: A Cold War Tragedy, and The Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz: A Story of Survival. Her research-driven storytelling has earned her international recognition, and in 2023 she served as a judge for the inaugural Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction.
Alison Watson, Chair of The Arts Society Chiswick, said the group was delighted to welcome Anne Sebba back. “She was last with us exactly five years ago in February 2021, when she told the evocative story of women in wartime Paris. This time we are in for an insightful and moving story from her latest book about the astonishing women who played in the orchestra at Auschwitz.”
Doors open at 7pm, with the private bar available from the same time. Tickets are £15 on the door, with the fee deducted from the annual subscription for anyone who chooses to join on the night. Guests are warmly welcomed.
Membership of the Arts Society Chiswick includes ten expert lectures on the second Thursday of every month (except August and December) and the opportunity to participate in tours, visits, social events and Special Interest Days. Half year Membership available from 1 July. For more information see the society's web site.
The Arts Society Chiswick brings people together through a shared curiosity for the arts, to create opportunities for everyone to be part of a diverse community in which they can enjoy, learn about, participate in, and preserve the Arts and Cultural Heritage.
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