The story of Olda Mehr, a former student of Jeppe High School for Girls in Johannesburg, was recently rediscovered by Kevin Tait, the former headmaster of Jeppe High School for Boys and former manager of the Ruth First Jeppe Memorial Trust. Tait's friend found a copy of "The Piano War" by South African author Graeme Friedman, which tells the story of Mehr's experiences during World War II.
Mehr was one of Jeppe's most accomplished musicians, having won a University of South Africa piano competition in 1937 and a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London. She was selected to perform as a soloist at the Queen's Hall under the baton of Sir Henry Wood in 1938. However, her life took an unexpected turn when she got caught up in the war while visiting family in Poland in 1939.
Friedman, who now lives in Australia, wrote "The Piano War" with his wife Tracey, a biography writing service called The Life Story Project. The book tells the story of Mehr and her sweetheart, Bennie Hermer, whose mutual love for playing the piano brought wonder to their extraordinary romance. The couple was impacted by World War II and the atrocities that occurred during the period.
Friedman learned about Mehr's story through audiotapes of interviews and oral history she shared with her children, as Mehr had already passed away by the time he began writing the book. Hermer, however, was still alive and provided Friedman with a treasure trove of material, including letters, photographs, and documents that revealed secrets even he didn't know.
The book recounts the miraculous moment the couple was reunited after their ordeal in Cairo, Egypt. Hermer spotted Mehr from his army vehicle as she walked down the street. Friedman believes that the story told by "The Piano War" continues to be relevant today, as the world faces similar challenges with authoritarian regimes and polarized political views.
Friedman and Tait hope that Mehr's story will give her the recognition she deserves as a talented musician. Sadly, after her trauma during the Holocaust, Mehr never performed the piano in public again. Friedman believes that the psychological trauma of her experience and the losses she endured were behind her decision not to perform on stage again.
A docu-drama series based on the book is currently in development, with Friedman working with South African Jewish filmmaker Kevin Harris to bring the story to life. The project is in its early stages, with investors who share the vision for telling this remarkable story.
Key points
- The story of Olda Mehr, a talented Jewish musician, was rediscovered through a chance discovery of a book at a second-hand store.
- Mehr's experiences during World War II, including being trapped by Nazis in Warsaw and her reunion with her sweetheart Bennie Hermer in Cairo, are told in "The Piano War" by Graeme Friedman.
- A docu-drama series based on the book is currently in development, aiming to bring Mehr's remarkable story to a wider audience.
