250 radio stations across the United States broadcast an hour-long program about Midori today, featuring her in interview with Fred Child and in performance with Robert McDonald. Participants in the Orchestra Residencies Program in Fargo ND are also interviewed.

Performance Today reaches an audience of 1.3 million listeners. The feature is available permanently worldwide as streaming audio.
http://performancetoday.publicradio.org.

Midori has participated in Big Think, a global forum connecting people and ideas. Her interview on video took place at Big Think's New York studios on 9 July. After editing, it will be posted on the Big Think website,http://bigthink.com/.. Sign up at http://bigthink. com/ideas/20877 to be informed when Midori's Big Think interview will be available.

The Huffington Post of 21 June 2010 contains an article by the President of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Michael Kaiser about the Center's International Committee on the Arts summit in Japan this year at which Midori was honoured.

Read Michael Kaiser's article: click here.

The Shenandoah Valley Music Festival presented Midori and pianist Charles Abramovic in a Partners in Performance recital on May 7, 2010. The concert took place at Shenandoah University's Armstrong Auditorium in the Virginia countryside, among many ceremonies and activities marking the start of the commencement weekend. Following the program of music by Beethoven, Janáček, Sallinen and Strauss, Shenandoah University presented Midori with an honorary degree: Doctor of Music, honoris causa. As Midori remarked to the audience, this is her first diploma in music!

Music Sharing invites eligible violinists, violists and cellists to apply for the 5th International Community Engagement Program. From 15 - 30 December 2010, Midori and the selected musicians will create ensembles to give concerts and music presentations in various settings in Laos, including rural areas with limited access to live music. From May 22 - June 10, 2011, ICEP participants will give a series of presentations in Japan, in which they will perform and share their individual experiences with audiences of music professionals, journalists and the general public. The application form and guidelines may be downloaded from Music Sharing's website. The application deadline is July 1, 2010.

On Saturday May 8, Midori & Friends celebrated its fifth annual Children's Music Festival at the Landmark School in Manhattan. The interactive concert - called 'A Landmark Event...It's All Music!"- brought together students and families from New York City's five boroughs to showcase Midori & Friends' diverse music education goals and activities. The afternoon program opened with M&F students from P.S. 70 and P.S./I.S. 180 singing Seasons of Love from the musical Rent; Midori performed classical works by Kreisler and Wienawski with pianist Jiayi Shi; jazz clarinetist Paquito D'Rivera and pianist Alex Brown took to the stage with the Landmark School's Jazz Ensemble; and traditional Chinese music ensemble Melody of Dragon collaborated with students from Midori & Friends partner schools P.S. 130 and P.S. 42. Additional special guests included 9-year-old cellist Sujari Britt, experimental sound artist Bora Yoon and the energetic drumming group Nation Beat.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has announced that violinist Midori is one of only four recipients of this year's Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts (KCICA) Gold Medal in the Arts. The awards are given to exceptional performers and arts leaders in the international community. Midori will accept her award at a special ceremony in Tokyo on Tuesday, 25 May 2010, along with fellow award recipients, architect Tadao Ando, Kabuki actor Kanzaburo Nakamura, and stage director Yukio Ninagawa. Winners of the prestigious Medal in past years have included Dame Judi Dench, Valery Gergiev, Mercedes Sosa, Trevor Nunn, and Lord Jacob Rothschild, among others.

The Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts was established in 2001 to promote international arts exchange and strengthen the Kennedy Center's international initiatives. Members of the KCICA will convene from 23-28 May for their annual Summit, taking place this year in Tokyo.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. is America's living memorial to President Kennedy and is the nation's cultural center, presenting more than 2,000 performances each year. Opened in 1971, the Center stages theater, dance, symphonic, chamber, jazz, popular, and folk music. In addition to its wide-ranging performance schedule, the Center offers the largest arts education program in the world, with work reaching over 16 million people in more than 60 countries spanning six continents.

Midori will give masterclasses at the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival from 2-10 August 2010. The compulsory piece for the masterclass is Mario Davidovsky's Duo Capriccioso.

Applicants should submit a CD containing the following:
* Two contrasting movements from a Bach Sonata or Partita (a dance movement and its Double count as one movement) OR the Chaconne of Partita No. 2 OR three consecutive movements of Partita No.3;
* a virtuoso piece;
* a major movement from a standard concerto;
* a work of the applicant's choice.

Applicants aged 15 or under should submit:
* a Bach movement;
* a major movement from a standard concerto.

For details of where to post your application: click here

Throw out the Atkins Diet - it's the "Midori Diet" that her peers should imitate.
(from the review by Jeff Dunn of Midori's New Music Recital in San Francisco that appeared in San Francisco Classical Voice http://www.sfcv.org)


Midori, good for you (Photocollage by Jeff Dunn)

Read the review: click here .

Midori spent several days in mid-February in snowbound Fargo, North Dakota. She was not grounded there for reasons of bad weather; rather, she travelled to Fargo with her USC graduate student Moni Simeonov to immerse themselves in the community engagement activity that Midori calls "ORP" (Orchestra Residencies Program). To read more about the program and other communities where ORPs have taken place, click here

While in Fargo - more specifically the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area - Midori and Moni met with local mayors, Chamber of Commerce representatives, arts administrators, public school music students and faculty, making presentations ("The Role of the Arts in a Thriving Community," "On Being an Artist in Today's World") and, in some cases, performing for them as well.

Most of Midori and Moni's time was spent in violin masterclasses and chamber music coaching, in addition to rehearsals and concerts with the Fargo-Moorhead Area Youth Symphonies under conductors Brian Cole and Jane Capistran. Midori performed the Kreisler Praeludium and Allegro (arranged for string orchestra and violin) with the Junior Youth Symphony and the first movement of the Barber Violin Concerto with the High School Youth Symphony. In concerts over the weekend, Midori played the Beethoven Violin Concerto with the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra under its conductor Bernard Rubenstein.

A highlight of the residency was Super String Day on February 13 during which 700 Junior and Senior High School strings students converged on Moorhead Horizon Middle School for mini-workshops, presentations and demonstrations, followed by separate Middle and High School Orchestra rehearsals.

In between all these activities, there was a Pizza Party for Youth Orchestra members and a Valentine's Brunch with Board and staff members of both the Youth Symphonies and the Fargo Moorhead Symphony Orchestra, as well as a series of press interviews and a pre-concert talk.

To read Midori's and Moni's blog entries about the Fargo-Moorhead Orchestra Residency Program, click here.

To read an article about the Fargo-Moorhead ORP that appeared in a local newspaper afterwards, click here .

Click here to read an interview with Midori that appeared in San Francisco Classical Voice on February 2, 2010. Written by Lisa Petrie, it is titled MIDORI AS MUSICAL AMBASSADOR.

As part of her New Music Recitals 2010 program, Midori was at the heart of a Day of Exploration involving panel discussions, masterclasses and a lecture/demonstration at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music on Sunday January 31. The Day of Exploration was co-sponsored by the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and San Francisco Performances.

Read about it in the San Francisco Chronicle article by Joshua Kosman entitled Midori makes a case for new music: click here

Modeled after her Orchestra Residencies Program, Midori's week in New Orleans involved rehearsals and performances with the Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestra and the Louisiana Philharmonic, violin and chamber music masterclasses open to string students from various schools, and a visit with the Greater New Orleans Suzuki Forum. Because the project was initiated as as a means of reinvigorating the classical music landscape in post-hurricane New Orleans, Midori's action-packed days in the city known as the "Big Easy" included much more: she was briefed on the rebuilding efforts since Hurricane Katrina, including the Musicians' Village and the Global Green Project in the Lower 9th Ward; there were also planned tours of the Green Project and the Preservation Resource Center attended by students from the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and the Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestra.

To see "The Year in Pictures", click here

Caroling Week is one of my cherished events of the year, when my students and I share ourselves and our music with the Los Angeles community through several institutions.

Walden House, a residence for men who have recently been released from jail, was one of the venues for Caroling 2009. We received a fantastically warm welcome although we were there on one of the coldest days of the year. We played in the courtyard between barrack-like buildings, in semi open air (no roof over our heads!).

From December 18 to 28 2009, a string quartet consisting of Midori, violinist Sini Simonen, violist Jinsun Hong and cellist Peter Myers toured Mongolia with Music Sharing's fourth International Community Engagement Program (ICEP). The landscape was frozen but the musicians received warm welcomes everywhere they went. The artists took part in 13 'Visit Concerts' at orphanages, schools for children with disabilities and a hospital. They also gave concerts at the official residences of both the Japanese and the United States ambassadors in Ulaanbaatar and at the Music and Dance College of Mongolia.

The quartet members also visited the Mongolia State Philharmonic, which consists of two orchestras, one that performs on 'Western' instruments, the other on traditional Mongolian instruments that include the Morin Khuur (horse-head fiddle), shant (three-stringed, long-necked, strummed lute similar to the Japanese shamisen), yoochin (dulcimer-like), khuuchir (bowed spike-fiddle), yatga (plucked zither related to the Chinese guzheng), and bishhuur (pipe similar in sound to a clarinet)*. The ICEP Quartet enjoyed listening to their hosts performing on these instruments and on 'Western' instruments, and to a demonstration of throat (Overtone) singing and Long song (Urtyn duu), accompanied by the horse-head fiddle. They even tried out some of the traditional Mongolian instruments themselves before reverting to their own instruments for a performance of Borodin's String Quartet No. 2.

Midori gives a few impressions of Mongolia in her January 2010 Website Greeting (link) and two photos from the ICEP visit appear in The Year in Pictures 2009 (link). In due course, a full report on the Mongolia ICEP, complete with more photographs, will appear in the PROJECTS section.

*A description of the Mongolian traditional instruments can be found at http://www.face-music.ch/instrum/mongolia_instrum.html

Midori has been selected for induction into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame. The announcement was made by the organization's Board of Trustees. The other inductees for 2009 are conductor James Conlon, composer John Adams, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the League of American Orchestras.

The American Classical Music Hall of Fame is dedicated to honoring and celebrating the many facets of American classical music. It seeks to recognize those who have made significant contributions to American classical music and, by doing so, aspires to sustain and build interest in American classical music.

Midori made her Shanghai debut on October 18th performing the violin concerto in D by Jean Sibelius with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra under conductor Zhang Guoyong.

To read her pre-concert interview with ShanghaiDaily.com, click here: http://www.shanghaidaily.com/

Midori is one of six personalities appearing in a United Nations public service announcement, launched September 18, in support of a comprehensive global climate agreement in Copenhagen in December 2009.

Midori, who was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace in 2007, was filmed on an overpass with the Santa Monica freeway thundering behind her. She is the only musician of the six personalities. The others are Mohamed Nasheed, President of the Maldives, Conservationist Saba Douglas-Hamilton, Environmentalist Philippe Cousteau, Nobel Peace Prize Winner Wangari Maathai and Actor Don Cheadle.

The PSA is being broadcast on television in the United States and appears on the UN's Seal The Deal' website. It urges all of us to sign the UN's Seal the Deal' petition.

Public Service Announcement: http://www.unep.org/sasakawa/ Seal the Deal' website: http://www.sealthedeal2009.org/

Midori Goto- From prodigy to peace ambassador
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/11/03/ta.midori/index.html

On May 27, P.S. 160 in Jamaica, Queens held its annual spring recital showcasing the students in the Midori & Friends instrument instruction programs. This year's event was dedicated to the memory of Ms. Rawn Harding, Midori's personal assistant for many years, who passed away in 2008.

It was during Rawn's first days working with Midori in the early 1990s that Midori & Friends connected with P.S. 160, a partnership that has blossomed ever since. Last summer, family, friends, and colleagues initiated a Midori & Friends scholarship fund in tribute to her life-long passion for the arts and music; their generous donations subsidized the violin program at P.S. 160 for the 2008/2009 school year.

P.S. 160's spring concert featured three violin groups drawn from grades 4 through 6, as well as the Junior Band and Advanced Band. An enthusiastic audience of parents, friends, and scholarship donors enjoyed the music of Shinichi Suzuki, Beethoven, J.S. Bach, arrangements by John O'Reilly & Mark Williams and a selection of folk songs from Jamaica, America, Mexico and France.

To read more about this special night and for a biography of Rawn Harding, please download the concert program PDF. click here

Midori performed in the Spring Gala of the (Washington D.C.) Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The Gala, A Celebration of Women in the Arts, featured an array of female artists who "have all shaped the collective landscape of culture and beyond." In addition to Midori, the evening included appearances and performances by Stockard Channing, Jenn Colella, Suzanne Farrell, Judith Jamison, Patti LaBelle, k.d. lang, Annie Leibovitz, Julia Murney, Veronika Part, Dianne Reeves, LeAnn Rimes, Chita Rivera, Linda Celeste Sims of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Lily Tomlin, Vera Wang, and others, with the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by JoAnn Falletta.

Midori performed the final movement of the Violin Concerto by Johannes Brahms.

To see photos from the event: http://www.winnipegsun.com/entertainment/2009/

MUSIC SHARING is looking for young musicians with a strong interest in community engagement activities to take part in its International Community Engagement Program (ICEP) in Mongolia in December 2009. Midori and the young musicians selected through audition will create ensembles to perform at schools, hospitals, and other institutions, including those in rural areas with limited access to live music. In early June 2010, participants will perform at several Concert-Conferences in Japan, where they will share their experiences in Mongolia with audiences.

≪ Mongolia ICEP Dates ≫
December 10, 2009 - December 30, 2009
Rehearsals in Tokyo, followed by visits to schools, hospitals and other institutions in Mongolia
June 2010 Concert-Conferences in Japan (schedule to be announced) Rehearsals in Tokyo, followed by visits to schools and other institutions in Japan, and Concert-Conferences to report on the Mongolia visit

Previous ICEP quartets visited Vietnam in 2006, Cambodia in 2007 and Indonesia in 2008. For more information about ICEP: http://www.musicsharing.jp/index_en.html

≪ Parts to be Auditioned ≫
Violin, Viola, Violoncello (one player each)

≪ Applicant Eligibility ≫
We invite applicants of every nationality, born between December 1, 1974 and December 1, 1988, with a strong interest in community engagement activities. Applicants are required to attend the entire schedule above and must be able to communicate in English.

≪ Applications ≫
The Application Form may be found on the online page below
http://www.musicsharing.jp/e_community09.html

≪ Deadline ≫
July 1, 2009 (JST)

≪ Send Application and Inquiries to ≫
NPO MUSIC SHARING
Kudan Ocean Bldg., 3F, 3-3-6, Nishikanda, Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo, 101-0065, Japan
Tel: +81-3-3261-1855 Fax: +81-3-3261-1856
E-mail: musicsharing@dolphin.ocn.ne.jp

MIDORI IS FORMALLY SWORN IN AS A UNITED NATIONS MESSENGER OF PEACE

September 2008

On 19 September, Midori was formally sworn in as a Messenger of Peace during observance of the International Day of Peace at United Nations Headquarters in New York City led by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Other activities of the International Day of Peace were a Peace Bell ceremony and a student conference involving 700 participants. The students discussed the theme of "Peace and Human Rights" with the participating Messengers of Peace who, in addition to Midori, included Michael Douglas, Jane Goodall and Elie Wiesel.

The United Nations describes its Messengers of Peace as "distinguished men and women of talent and passion who have expressed their desire to help focus attention on the noble aims of the United Nations Charter: a world without war, respect for human rights, international law and social and economic progress." There are nine Messengers of Peace -- the four mentioned above as well as Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, George Clooney, Yo-Yo Ma, Paulo Coelho and Daniel Barenboim.

Midori is on the cover of the August/September 2008 issue of STRINGS magazine. To read the article by James Reel, "A Force for Change,"

http://www.stringsmagazine.com/article/default.aspx?articleid=22846
(Access to this article requires a password: education)

MIDORI TOURS EUROPE WITH JONATHAN BISS AND JOHANNES MOSER

July - August 2008

On July 23rd, Midori embarks on a two-week tour of Europe with pianist Jonathan Biss and cellist Johannes Moser. The trio performs a program of works by Schumann, Kirchner and Beethoven in Germany (Schloss Elmau), England (London and Harrogate), Slovenia, Switzerland (Zurich), the Netherlands (Delft), Denmark (Copenhagen) and Spain (Palma de Mallorca and Menorca).

MIDORI PERFORMS ALL-CONTEMPORARY MUSIC PROGRAM IN EUROPE

May 2008

Midori and Charles Abramovic presented an all-contemporary recital program in Europe consisting of works by John Adams, Krzysztof Penderecki, Magnus Lindberg, Huw Watkins and James MacMillian. Among the cities in which they performed were Glasgow, London and Berlin.

MIDORI IS ARTIST IN RESIDENCE WITH THE LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

March-May 2008

Different aspects of Midori's work were profiled in London in the Spring of 2008 as she became the subject of the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO)'s 2007-2008 Artist Portrait.

In this capacity, she performed the Tchaikovsky and Britten violin concertos with the orchestra, conducted by Daniel Harding, and took part in several events with LSO Discovery, the Orchestra's education and community departments: she performed a Discovery Lunchtime Concert with Charles Abramovic as well as an all-contemporary program. Midori also collaborated with fellow artists in events that included a masterclass on works by Adams, MacMillan, Lindberg and Penderecki for young, aspiring violinists, gave a video conference streamed online so that web-based listeners could submit questions, and held a public rehearsal of Efflorescence, a new work created for her by Christian Mason.

To read more about Midori's LSO residency (http://lso.co.uk/midori)

LINCOLN CENTER PRESENTS MIDORI'S BACH-SCHNITTKE-TAKEMITSU PROJECT

February and May 2008

Midori's Bach, Schnittke Takemitsu Project, presented at New York's Lincoln Center, explored the distinctive musical voices of Alfred Schnittke and Toru Takemitsu in three programs that combined their works with more familiar repertoire. Joining Midori were pianist Marc-André Hamelin, cellist Johannes Moser, the Miró and Daedalus quartets, flutists Demarre McGill and Nadine Assin, harpist Nancy Allen and a chamber orchestra conducted by Michael Stern.

In the printed concert program, Midori wrote, "I have been intrigued by [the music of Takemitsu and Schnittke] since I was a teenager; initially, they were linked in my mind simply by their likeness in age and appearance. With further study, I discovered significant musical parallels existed between them as well, particularly in their associations with Bach's music. Schnittke and Takemitsu both regarded Bach with nearly worshipful reverence . [His] style and works deeply influenced each composer's musical identity in combination with their individual creativity. Ultimately, the connection was so clear to me that it became the inspiration for this project.

The first concert in the series consisted of Ravel's Sonata for Violin and Piano, Takemitsu's Piano Trio Between the Tides, Debussy's String Quartet Op. 10 and Takemitsu's Quartet A Way Alone. In a pre-concert talk, Midori spoke with Peter Grilli, Director of the Center of Japanese Culture at Columbia University and Takemitsu's American representative. This program was repeated at Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center the following day as part of its Japan! Culture + Hyperculture Festival.

The second concert preceded by a lecture from musicologist Laurel E. Fay, consisted of Bach's Trio Sonata BWV 1038, Schnittke's Violin Sonata No. 1 and Septet for Strings, Winds and Organ and Shostakovich's Piano Quintet.

The final concert featured Takemitsu's Toward the Sea II, scored for alto flute, harp and string orchestra, and Rain Coming, scored for chamber orchestra, Ravel's Introduction and Allegro, Schnittke's Concerto Grosso No. 1 and Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 5.

To read an article about the series by Dennis D. Rooney in Stagebill
(http://www.playbillarts.com/features/article/7550.html)

Midori and her long-time pianist partner Robert McDonald will give four concerts with two different programs at Hamarikyu Asahi Hall in Tokyo in December 2007/January 2008. Midori also will be featured in two pre-concerts performing solo works by Bach.

Midori announced her latest project taking place in Japan. This time she collaborates with the well-known Japanese koto player Kazue Sawai and her group to create a special combination of concerts at Hamarikyu Asahi Hall. At no extra charge, ticket-holders can enjoy both pre-concerts and concerts of Japanese traditional music and Western classical music played alternately by Ms. Sawai's ensemble and by Midori and Bob McDonald.

The aim of this project is to erase the border between Japanese traditional music and Western classical music. Midori said, "Japanese traditional music and Western classical music are believed to be different genres of music; however, after they listen to both the pre-concert and concert, the audience will notice that there is no such border between them. I hope everyone who attends these concerts will not only feel great respect for the creativity of human beings in the past but will become aware of the power of human beings to create our future."

For details (in Japanese) click here

Violinist Midori has been officially designated a Messenger of Peace by Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations.

The announcement of her appointment was timed to coincide with the annual International Day of Peace (21 September 2007). The Messengers of Peace is a program instituted by Kofi Annan, the previous Secretary-General of the United Nations, intended to promulgate the goals and ideals of the United Nations by partnering with prominent individuals who have an established and demonstrated commitment to those goals and ideals in their professional and private lives. Other new honorees are Princess Haya of Jordan, conductor and pianist Daniel Barenboim and writer Paulo Coelho.

A statement issued by the United Nations says, "When considering Midori for this designation, the Secretary-General said he was convinced that she would be a compassionate and creative Messenger of Peace given the tremendous contributions she has made through Midori & Friends and her other organizations. He commended her for inspiring young people through music, and for utilizing music education as a compelling way to build a sense of community. As a Messenger of Peace Midori will help to promote the U.N.'s Millennium Development Goals and build upon her commitment to youth."

Midori said, "I am very pleased to have been invited by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to become a United Nations Messenger of Peace This is an opportunity to champion the United Nations' Millennium goals in a meaningful way. I look forward to being an advocate for the cause, working both through my own community engagement organizations and in collaboration with United Nations programs".

December 2005

                  

Midori spent a few mornings during the week of December 12th in public schools in New York City on behalf of Midori and Friends. With pianist Thomas Sauer, she performed works by Glazunov, Beethoven, Brahms and Bartok for students in the third to fifth grades (approximately ages 8-10) and talked with the children and their teachers about the music, the composers and the art of interpretation.

November 2005

AN OVERVIEW OF MIDORI'S 2005-2006 SEASON

Midori's 2005-2006 season takes her to Asia, North and South America and Europe, filled with concerts and masterclasses, teaching, and working closely with several non-profit organizations that she has founded in the U.S. and in Japan.

Before the season began, Midori spent the summer of 2005 primarily in Asia and Europe, where she did a Music Sharing tour with Koji Oikawa involving 24 concerts in 13 cities, gave recitals in Hong Kong, Macao, and Singapore with pianist Peter Vinograde, and performed Total Experience recitals at Universities in Niigata and Atsugi. In Europe, she was a featured artist at the Schleswig Holstein Music Festival, where she performed Prokofiev's Concerto No. 1 with the Festival Orchestra under Christoph Eschenbach in Lübeck, Flensburg and Kiel and led master classes in violin and chamber music at the Festival's base in Lübeck over a six-day period, culminating in public performances with the students. Recitals with Charles Abramovic followed in Germany, Croatia, and France, at the Salzburg Festival in Austria, and the Tuscan Sun Festival in Italy where Midori also performed the Beethoven Concerto with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden under the baton of Antonio Pappano. Toward the end of July, Midori visited the Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara at his home in Helsinki to discuss the work for violin and piano that he was in the process of writing for her. She left their meetings feeling both energized and inspired. The work has since been completed; Midori will give the world premiere during the 2006-2007 season.

Back in the U.S., Midori recorded the Bach Sonata in A for Sony/BMG in Worcester, Massachusetts before flying to Los Angeles to settle into her "cute" new apartment there and meet her new students at the University of Southern California (USC). On the first night in the apartment that she shares with a fellow faculty member at USC, Midori slept on a Japanese Futon-inspired bed that her mother had made for her at her request. Midori is determined to make the move herself, so every time she travels from New York to Los Angeles, she brings as much with her as she can carry and returns to New York virtually empty-handed. The apartment is conveniently located so Midori can commute to school on the bus, at least for the present time, although one of her goals for the next year is to get her driver's license. Her studio at USC has been partly refurbished for her use, although she is eager to retain some furniture and engravings that are rumored to have belonged to Gregor Piatigorsky, who taught in that very room in the 1960s and '70s.

In September, for the first time in ten years, Midori returned to Brazil. There she performed with the Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo in the wonderful Sala São Paulo, which used to be a train station, and with the Orquestra Sinfônica de Porto Alegre. With the former orchestra, she also gave an outdoor concert in Ibirapuera Park, playing Bruch's Concerto No. 1 for a large crowd, and televised nationally. While in Brazil, Midori met and fell in love with two sweet puppies, who returned her adoration. When their sister puppy was born, she was named Midori in her honor. Like the human Midori, the puppy Midori is also always on the go--refusing to sit still!

(Midori with Schubert and his sister Twiggy)

Anyone who has offered to help Midori carry her luggage in recent years knows that the book bag tossed casually over her shoulder is deceptively heavy, weighing easily ten pounds. This is because of a 1500+ page textbook she has been reading in connection with her Masters thesis, appropriately on the subject of Pain. If nothing else, the preparation of her thesis gave Midori first hand experience of back pain. Those who have experienced the weight of Midori's book bag will be pleased to know that the book on pain is no longer in it. In early September, Midori successfully defended her thesis at New York University's Gallatin School!

In September and October, Midori performed Prokofiev's Concerto No. 1 with the San Francisco Symphony/Michael Tilson Thomas, Philadelphia Orchestra/Christoph Eschenbach and New York Philharmonic/Marin Alsop. Midori also gave Partners in Performance (PiP) recitals with Charles Abramovic in Barron Wisconsin and Richland, Washington.

At this writing, Midori looks forward to many upcoming concerts and projects:

• a U.S recital tour with Charles Abramovic in a program featuring works by Mozart, Schoenberg, Prokofiev and Beethoven. Prior to the Disney Hall recital, Midori will perform a short chamber music program with students from USC; 

• two performances of Prokofiev's first concerto in Munich with the Bayerischer Rundfunk Orchestra and Mariss Jansons, followed by a seven-concert tour of Japan;

• performances of the Sibelius Violin Concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra/Sir Colin Davis and with the Deutsches Symphonie Orchester (Berlin)/Kent Nagano and of the Beethoven Violin Concerto with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra/Mark Wigglesworth and the National Symphony Orchestra/Leonard Slatkin;

• a European recital tour in March with Charles Abramovic featuring works of Lindberg, Mozart, Grieg, Schoenberg and Beethoven;

• an All-Contemporary Program recital tour in the U.S. in April with Robert McDonald with concerts in Buffalo and Stony Brook, N.Y., Middletown, Connecticut and Santa Cruz, California, at the Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, Carnegie/Zankel Hall, New York and the Herbst Theater, San Francisco. The repertoire includes music by Judith Weir, Isang Yun, Alexander Goehr, György Kurtág and Witold Lutosławski. The San Francisco concert will be preceded by two days of special events. Midori is putting together an informative newsletter about contemporary music in general, and the works on her program in particular, which will appear on her website in the weeks leading up to the contemporary recitals. She is also finalizing the repertoire for her All-New-Music recital program for the 2006-2007 season;

• a European tour in May with Robert McDonald with repertoire by Schubert, Prokofiev, Schoenberg and Beethoven, followed by a brief tour with the NDR/Alan Gilbert in which Midori performs the Stravinsky and Beethoven concertos;

• With some European recital dates, there are also plans for a post-concert Bach performance

• Orchestra Residency Programs in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Burlington, Vermont;

• University Residency Programs in Northampton, Massachusetts and Madison, Wisconsin;

• A continuation of her work with Midori and Friends in New York City;

• A recording of Mozart sonatas with Christoph Eschenbach for Sony/BMG in May;

• In most months, Midori spends several days each in Los Angeles and New York, teaching at the University of Southern California and with her students from the Manhattan School of Music. Working with students, and teaching generally (giving lessons, masterclasses and lectures) gives Midori great pleasure and satisfaction. By now all her students are getting used to early morning telephone calls from Midori telling them she has had a bad dream in which they play incorrectly because she has neglected to teach them something during their lesson. In keeping with the interdisciplinary approach that Midori favors, she is working closely with colleagues at USC in the creation of the Midori Center for Community Engagement at the Thornton School of Music at USC. The Center will serve as a resource center for all matters related to community and public engagement, and the seminar will help musicians learn the art of engaging with communities. This latter part is a component of Midori's chamber music syllabus.

Looking ahead to 2006-2007, Midori is already eager for the three weeks she will spend at the Marlboro Music Festival and to appearing with the Sydney, Perth and Melbourne (Australia) symphonies in July/August 2006.

Although Midori travels a great deal, she still considers New York City her "home," at least for the time being. This may change in the next year, when her brother, Ryu, leaves home to go to college and she will be more permanently based in LA. Midori has always kept a close eye on her brother, toward whom she feels great affection and somewhat protective. Ryu, who is scheduled to graduate from high school in May 2006, is applying to colleges this year. Ryu has become more of a companion to Midori in recent years; they enjoy going out to restaurants and attending concerts together, like the one by Dave Brubeck not long ago, which they both loved.

For Midori, "home" is not "home" without dogs. In the past year, she and her family have suffered the loss of both their beloved pooches, Franzie, the long-haired dachshund and Willa, the West Highland terrier. Both animals lived to good old ages but their deaths have left a big hole in the lives of the Goto family, as has the death of Birdie, their pet bird. Midori has been scouring websites and visiting animal shelters in New York City and nearby, looking for a new puppy, so far without success. Hopefully, the Goto apartment will soon again be filled with animal noises and smells. One thing is certain: the new Goto puppy will be a lucky dog, treated like royalty, fed good people-food and with lots of good music to listen to. (It will have to be a puppy because it will have to be bilingual, and it is easier to teach a puppy to understand two languages, than a mature dog.)

Wherever she is in the world in 2005-2006, Midori will be reading voraciously and is likely to have a knitting or crocheting project on the go as well.

Midori and Charles Abramovic rehearse in Dubrovnik

Midori with two friends from the Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo holding Twiggy and Schubert

This puppy, named Midori, lives in São Paulo. One of her parents is Artistic Director of the Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo

August 2005

MIDORI BLOGS ARTSJOURNAL.COM

For two weeks in late June and early July, while Midori was performing and teaching in Asia. she took park in a blog conversation with ArtsJournal editor Douglas McLennan.

Titled Midori in Asia, the blog can be accessed at www.artsjournal.com/midori

MIDORI TO GIVE MASTERCLASSES IN LÜBECK

As part of her week-long residency at the Schleswig Holstein Music Festival (SHMF) in July, Midori will give masterclasses in violin and chamber music between July 25th and 29th. Open to the public, the masterclasses will take place at the Musikhochschule in Lübeck.

Masterclasses have been an important part of the SHMF since 1987 and approximately 400 applications are received each year from all over the world from students wishing to take part. In addition to Midori's violin and chamber music classes this summer, the SHMF will also hold masterclasses in marimba, voice, double bass, piano, viola, voice, percussion, cello and vocal ensemble.

At the conclusion of each masterclass, there will be a public concert; Midori's students will perform on the evening of July 29th at the concert hall of the Musikhochschule Lübeck.

Further information for prospective applicants and for observers may be found at
http://www.shmf.de/index2.html

May 2005

COCKTAILS, MUSIC AND DINNER IN SUPPORT OF MIDORI & FRIENDS

Midori & Friends held its 2005 Gala on April 6th at New York's St. Regis Hotel.

There was much to celebrate. Following cocktails in the Library, the guests were ushered into the Versailles Room for a musicale. A performance of Wouldn't It Be Loverly by students from P.S. 180 in Harlem began the special concert in tribute to Kitty Carlisle Hart, the widow of Moss Hart, who was the director of the original Broadway production of My Fair Lady in 1956. Following the children's performance, Mrs. Hart was presented with the second Champion for Children Award.

Immediately afterwards, Midori and pianist Jiayi Shi performed Mozart's Sonata in A Major K305 and Szymanowski's Notturno e Tarantella. The musicale concluded with Canadian Brass playing selections works by Vivaldi, Fats Waller, and the Beatles.

The celebration continued with formal dinner on The Roof during which two other awards were presented: the Distinguished Leadership Award for Arts and Education to Midori & Friends Vice Chair, Bonnie Reiss and the Ambassadors Award, to Canadian Brass.

The Midori & Friends Gala had begun with music performed by students. The evening concluded with a jazz presentation by the Landmark and Coalition High School Jazz Ensemble, drawn from Landmark High School and the Coalition School for Social Change where Midori & Friends has overseen the jazz program for three years. The Ensemble excelled in works by Herbie Hancock, Pedro Flores and George Gershwin.

For more information on the work of Midori & Friends, visit www.midoriandfriends.org

Midori and Jiayi Shi performing in the Versailles Room
photo: Steven Ladner

JOHANN-A-THON TO RAISE FUNDS FOR CLASSICAL ACTION

Some of Midori's students at the Manhattan School of Music are involved in setting up a four-part, twelve-hour music event celebrating the life and music of Johann Sebastian Bach. The performers are students and faculty of the MSM.

Johann-a-thon 2005 will take place on Saturday April 2nd at St. James Chapel, Union Theological Seminary, in New York City.

Guest Artists include Dr. Kenneth Cooper, Dr. Walter Hilse, Midori, David Soyer, and Peter Vinograde.

Proceeds from Johann-a-thon 2005 will benefit Classical Action: Performing Arts Against AIDS.

For programs, times, performers and ticket information, please go to www.Johann-a-thon.org

MIDORI GIVES PRE-CONCERT PERFORMANCES AT LOS ANGELES WALT DISNEY HALL

Midori performed the Beethoven Violin Concerto with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra in February. Before each of the four performances, she took part in a pre-concert event in which she performed Beethoven's "Archduke Trio" with pianist Karina Sabac and cellist Ruslan Biryukov. Karina and Ruslan are students at the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music, where Midori has held the Jascha Heifetz Chair since last September.

February 2005

A MONTH IN THE LIFE

Midori kept a diary for the month of December 2004 for Gramophone magazine. To read the full text, which appears on Gramophone's website, please click the following link:

http://www.gramophone.co.uk/interviews_detail.asp?id=2282

December 2004

MIDORI PERFORMS FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN IN
NEW YORK CITY

Sandwiched between her Carnegie Hall recital and an extended tour of Asia, Midori spent a few days sharing her music with school children in New York City. Under the auspices of Midori & Friends, she and pianist Tom Sauer visited PS (Public School) 48 in Jamaica, PS 139Q in Rego Park, and PS 180M in Harlem..

Midori and Tom performed works by Copland, Beethoven, Kreisler and Mozart, among others. Paula Bing, Education Consultant for Midori & Friends, guided the children through the concert, with help from Midori and Tom. At P.S. 180, as a treat before Midori and Tom's presentation, the school's children's choir, inaugurated by Midori & Friends during the 2004-2005 school year, gave a mini-performance.

Midori and Tom will give more concerts for Midori & Friends in the spring; in the meantime, the children will be kept busy with other Midori & Friends programs, including non-classical presentations, which will continue through the winter months.

September 2004

MIDORI'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY RELEASED ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2004

Midori's autobiography "Einfach Midori" ("Simply Midori") was released by the German publisher Henschel Verlag on 30 September 2004. In a straightforward and critical way, Midori recalls 20 years of an impressive career which began in 1982 when, at the age of eleven, she gave her debut with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra under Zubin Mehta.

"Einfach Midori" depicts her successes, large and small, obstacles and disappointments, both professional and personal, and her hopes and plans for the future.

The book has been published in German exclusively and may be ordered online through the publisher

http://www2.txt.de

or through Amazon.de

http://www.amazon.de

August 2004

MIDORI TO GIVE MASTER CLASS IN TOKYO DECEMBER 26, 2004

Midori will hold a master class in Tokyo in connection with her Contemporary Music Project, involving 12 concerts in Japan in December 2004 and January 2005.

Date: Sunday, 26 December 2004 (3 to 7 p.m.)
Place: Tokyo Opera City (Large Rehearsal Room)

Eligibility: Violin students at a para-professional level, aged 16-25, of any nationality are invited to apply between September 13 and November 12, 2004.

Requirements: There is a non-refundable application fee of 2000 Yen. Each applicant should submit details of his or her musical background and a recording (on CD, MD, or DAT) of the work chosen for the master class (from the list below), as well as two contrasting movements from a standard concerto/sonata.

Master Class Repertoire: The work to be performed at the master class must be chosen from among the following works that Midori and Robert McDonald will perform at their recitals in Obihiro, Mibu-cho, Osaka, Sapporo, Niigata and Tokyo:

Judith Weir: Music for 247 Strings (1981) (published by Novello)
Isang Yun: Violin Sonata No. 1 (1991) (published by Bote&Bock)
Alexander Goehr: Suite for Violin and Piano Op. 71 (2000) (published by Schott)
Gyorgy Kurtag: Tre Pezzi per violino e pianoforte, Op. 14e (1996) (published by EMB)
Witold Lutoslawski: Partita (1984) (published by Chester)

Additional Information: Applicants must purchase their own music, which is available through the internet via the publishers' websites or through YAMAHA Music Store in Ginza (Tel: +81 3-3572-3136) and must bring their own pianists to the master class. Applicants are responsible for their own traveling and accommodation expenses.

For further information, including details of the bank account into which Application Fees should be paid, contact:

OFFICE GOTO CO., LTD.
2-5-18-501, Kojimachi,
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
102-0083 Japan
Tel: 03-3262-8582
Fax: 03-3262-8634
E-mail: wakako@sym-tokyo.com

August 2004

MIDORI AND ROBERT McDONALD TO TOUR JAPAN WITH ALL-CONTEMPORARY PROGRAM

In recent years, Midori and her long-time pianist partner, Robert McDonald, have included new and lesser-known works in their recital programs in order to broaden the horizons of audience members. Their repertoire for an extensive recital tour of Japan in December 2004/January 2005 underlines their commitment with a commissioned work and a program consisting entirely of music composed after 1981.

The commissioned work, by the American composer Michael Hersch, is the wreckage of flowers: Twenty-one pieces after poems and prose of Czeslaw Milosz. Following the world premiere in Lisbon on 21 November 2004, Midori and Robert McDonald perform the work in Madrid, London, Glasgow, Munich and New York City before bringing it to Japan, specifically to Obihiro, Osaka, Sapporo, Kita-Kyushu, Matsumoto, Niigata and Tokyo.

The all-contemporary program consists of Judith Weir's Music for 247 Strings, Isang Yun's Sonata No. 1, Alexander Goehr's Suite, Op. 70, Gyorgy Kurtag's Tre Pezzi and Witold Lutoslawski's Partita.

In connection with the all-contemporary program, Midori has prepared an educational Pre-Concert Event to be held at Tokyo Opera City on 26 December. This will be open at no charge to ticket holders to the concert on 12 January at Takemitsu Memorial Hall (also at Tokyo Opera City). The object of the December 26th Event is to invite participants to examine contemporary music from different perspectives, to enhance their listening enjoyment of Midori's Contemporary Music Concert and to promote contemporary music in general.

The day will be divided into four sessions: morning and afternoon lecture discussions, a master class (devoted to the works on Midori's Contemporary Music Concert) and a reception. The lecture discussions will feature guest speakers drawn from musicologists, composers and hosts of classical music programs, as well as Midori herself. Audience participation will be encouraged. At the end of the afternoon there will be a short performance by Midori and Robert McDonald.

Four pre-selected young musicians will be invited to take part in a public master class given by Midori. During the master class, an overhead projector will enable audience members to follow the scores. A question and answer session will follow the master class with long-distance questions, particularly via e-mail and telephone, will be welcomed.

Video footage, including interviews with contemporary composers, will be shown in the lobby area for a few weeks leading up to the concert, along with a display of photographs. These will also be shown at the Yamaha Music Store in Ginza and at other CD shops and music stores. A listening space (mobile library) will be set up to enable members of the public to listen to works by the composers represented in the concert in a comfortable setting. Scores will be available so interested audience members can examine them and/or follow them while listening to the recordings.

The Pre-Concert Event will be capped off with a reception open to everyone who attended the day's events.

June 2004

MIDORI AND PETER VINOGRADE IN BANGKOK

Midori and pianist Peter Vinograde were in Bangkok for three very busy days. On 29 June, over 500 music students from all over Thailand were invited to listen to their private recital at the Small Hall of the Thailand Cultural Center, which included works by Mozart, Ravel, Goehr, and Dvořák. The duo concert was followed by Peter's mini-piano recital exclusively for piano students, with works by Bach and Beethoven. Later that day, both Peter and Midori gave masterclasses and private coaching to selected Thai instrumentalists.

On 30 June, Midori and Peter gave a charity concert at the Main Hall of the Thailand Cultural Center, which was attended by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana Krom Luang Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra. The proceeds from the performance will benefit the Support Foundation of HM Queen Sirikit of Thailand and HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Foundation.

Midori and Peter wish to express special thanks to Toshiba Thailand and to the Bangkok Symphony Foundation for their wonderful support and hospitality.


Midori and the pianist Peter Vinograde, with Mrs. Wattanavrangkul of Thai Toshiba and Mrs. Tejapaibul of Bangkok Symphony

April 2004

Midori's recital with Robert McDonald in April 2004 at Dublin's National Concert Hall was broadcast Wednesday June 9th at 9 p.m.on RTE Lyric fm (96-99 fm), Ireland's Music and Arts Channel.

May 2004

Midori Is Named to Prestigious Post at USC's Thornton School of Music

Midori has joined the faculty of the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music as Jascha Heifetz Chair in Music. The Heifetz Chair was established in 1974 in honor of the great violinist and pedagogue Jascha Heifetz, who taught at USC from 1962 to 1982. Midori's appointment commences in the Fall of 2004.

Dr. Robert A. Cutietta, Dean of the Thornton School of Music, said "Midori is extraordinarily well-suited to her new role in USC's broad academic setting. She will be an excellent mentor for our students because she combines the highest level of artistry appropriate to a conservatory and the intellectual curiosity appropriate to a research university."

Midori will teach classes at the Thornton School, and will do private coaching in violin performance and chamber music. She will also act as mentor to music majors drawn not only from the ranks of classical musicians but from jazz studies majors as well, treating a whole range of topics relating to the realities of the life of a professional musician, a subject often untouched by conservatories and music schools.

Midori made the following comment on her new appointment: "I'm excited by the opportunity USC will provide to explore music instruction beyond the traditional paradigm of the one-to-one imparting of instrumental skills. Participating in the formation of integrated artists who are complete human beings is at the center of my concerns as an educator, as these issues were of vital importance to me as a student. I also greatly enjoy engaging students in a more holistic approach to music education, with all the collaboration and discipline that requires."

Midori adds her USC appointment to an active schedule of 90 concerts a year, a faculty position at the Manhattan School of Music, and her involvement in the many projects generated annually by her outreach organizations: Midori & Friends (U.S.), Music Sharing (Japan), Partners in Performance (U.S.), University Residencies Program (U.S.) and Orchestra Residencies Program (U.S.).

February 2004

MIDORI GIVES A MASTERCLASS AT BOWLING GREEN UNIVERSITY

Anabelle Tirado, Cheng Hu, Emily Coplin and Kathleen Jara, students at the College of Musical Arts, Bowling Green University in Ohio, took part in a masterclass with Midori and also attended Midori's recital at Kobacker Hall on February 13th.

February 2004

MIDORI TO APPEAR ON WQED MARCH 31ST 2004

A brief profile of Midori and her San Francisco recital will be broadcast on Spark, a culture/news program, on the Bay Area's PBS TV station, KQED. The First broadcast is scheduled for Wednesday, March 31st at 7:30pm with a repeat on April 2nd at 11pm.

January 2004

MIDORI MEETS STUDENT ORCHESTRA MEMBERS

Midori made side trips in January 2004 to visit with young musicians -- in Dayton, Ohio and in Detroit, Michigan.

On 10 January, beating the extreme cold, members of the Dayton Philharmonic's
Junior String Orchestra gathered for their first rehearsal after a holiday hiatus, met with Midori during their rehearsal break. This young
orchestra is comprised of 53 students from grades 6 to 12, who rehearse every Saturday during the school year under the guidance of conductor Karen Young. The young performers listened intently as Midori spoke about her
career and responded enthusiastically with many questions.

On another cold day a week later, members of the Detroit Symphony Civic Sinfonia met with Midori after their rehearsal. This group, now happily situated in the new Max M. Fisher Music Center, is made up of young players from all over Michigan who have been selected through a rigorous audition to work with conductor Charles Burke. They also asked Midori a lot of questions and were eager to get a glimpse of the life of a professional performer.

Q&A with the Detroit Civic Sinfonia members

Lobby scene at the The Schuster Performing Arts Center in Dayton, Ohio

Visiting the members of the Dayton Junior Philharmonic

MIDORI'S MENDELSSOHN/BRUCH CD WINS AWARD

Midori's recently released recording of the Mendelssohn and Bruch ViolinConcertos has received the Quarterly Prize of the German Record Critics (Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik).

November 2003

LIFT OFF FOR PARTNERS IN PERFORMANCE

The inaugural concert for Partners in Performance (PiP) took place in Plymouth, New Hampshire on November 2. The concert, presented at Plymouth State University's Silver Hall by Friends of the Arts, the local community-based arts organization was enthusiastically received. The presenters made a special effort to reach out to members of the community by setting aside a number of low-priced tickets for students and social service agency clients. Midori and pianist Charles Abramovic performed a full recital program consisting of works of Paganini-Liszt, Brahms, Bach, and Saint-Saëns, followed by an encore, "Le Printemps," by Milhaud. For more information on PiP, please contact Kelly Gehrs.

Click here to read Charles Danziger's guest column on the Plymouth, N.H. PiP concert.

October 2003

MIDORI LECTURES AT NY'S INTERNATIONAL HOUSE

On October 30th (2003), Midori gave a lecture for the Leadership in the Arts program at the International House in New York City. Donald L. Cuneo, the President of the International House, welcomed everyone and introduced I-House alumna Judy Woo. Judy made brief remarks about the Woman's International Leadership Program for which Midori had served as her mentor. In her lecture, Midori focused on the interdisciplinary approach and its influence on many of her projects including Total Experience and the University Residencies Program (URP). The evening concluded with a lively Q & A session.

I-House President Donald L. Cuneo with Judy Woo and Midori. On the artwork behind them is, written in Chinese, the motto of the I- House founder, John D. Rockefeller: "That Brotherhood May Prevail"

October 2003

A MASTER CLASS IN TORONTO

On October 15, 2003, the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra and the Glenn Gould Professional School of the Royal Conservatory of Music jointly presented a master class led by Midori.

Two young performers, Jennie Press and Amy Park, worked with Midori for almost two hours while the audience, comprised of parents, teachers, friends, and music lovers listened attentively.

Amy Park and Midori (photo: Cliff Spicer)

*the photographs are courtesy of The Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto, Canada

October 2003

ONE SEASON'S REPERTOIRE

Sometimes people ask Midori which works - and how many works - she has performed in a single season. For those who are interested, here is a list of the music Midori has performed during her 20th anniversary (2002-2003) season. The music is listed in three categories: works for violin and piano, chamber music and concertos.

In putting together recital programs, Midori tries to combine better-known and lesser-known pieces. It's more interesting for her and she hopes it's also something of an ear-opener for members of the audience.

Midori is constantly searching for new pieces that she can learn and then share with her audiences. The Amy Beach Romance is one of these. So are Lutoslawski's Subito, Schulhoff's Second Sonata and Szymanowski's Myths.

Violin and Piano:
Amy Beach: Romance
Beethoven: Sonata No. 1 in D Major, Op. 12 No. 1
Beethoven: Sonata No. 9 in A Major, Op. 47 (Kreutzer)
Beethoven: Sonata No. 10 in G Major, Op. 96
Brahms: Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op.100
Dvořák: Sonatina in G Major, Op. 100
De Falla/Kochanski: Suite populaire espagnole
Grieg: Sonata No.3 in C minor, Op. 45
Janáček: Sonata (1914, Rev.1921)
Lutoslawski: Subito (1992)
Mendelssohn: Sonata in F Major (1838)
Mozart: Sonata in G Major, KV 301
Mozart: Sonata in E minor, KV304 (300c)
Mozart: Sonata in A Major, KV526
Mozart: Sonata in C Major KV296
Paganini: La Campanella
Ravel: Tzigane (1924)
Sarasate: Zapateado, Op. 23 No. 2
Schnittke: Sonata No.1 (1963)
Schulhoff: Sonata No. 2, SZ 76
Schumann: Sonata in A minor, Op.105
R. Strauss: Sonata in E-flat Major, Op. 18
Szymanowski: Myths, Op. 30
Tchaikovsky: Waltz-Scherzo in C Major, Op.34
Webern: Four Pieces, Op. 7

Chamber Music:
Brahms: Sextet in B-flat, Op. 18
Dvořák: Terzetto, Op. 74
Mozart: Duo for Violin and Viola in B-flat, K424

With Orchestra:
Barber: Concerto, Op. 14
Dvořák:Concerto in A minor, Op. 53
Elgar: Concerto in B minor, Op. 61
Mendelssohn: Concerto in E minor, Op. 64
Mozart: Concerto No. 3 in G Major, K216
Saint-Saëns: Havanaise
Saint-Saëns: Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso
Sibelius: Concerto in D minor, Op. 47

September 2003

MIDORI KICKS OFF HER 2003-2004 SEASON WITH BRAHMS IN HONOLULU AND MILWAUKEE

Midori's 2003-2004 season began on the 5th and 7th of September when she performed the Brahms Violin Concerto with the Honolulu Symphony conducted by its Music Director Samuel Wong. She enjoyed beautiful views of the ocean from her hotel window but her time was mostly spent working - rehearsing with the orchestra, doing radio interviews and giving a pre-concert lecture. In the evenings there were the concerts, of course, after which the Hawaiian audiences greeted Midori warmly in the auditorium lobby.

Audience members greet Midori at Blaisdell Auditorium

The following week Midori was in Milwaukee as guest of the Milwaukee Symphony and its Music Director Andreas Delfs. She performed the Brahms Concerto in the opening concerts of the Symphony season, on the 12th, 13th and 14th of September. As in Honolulu, Midori took part in pre-concert discussions and post-concert receptions. She enjoys meeting audience members informally and, wherever possible, makes herself available after performances to speak with them individually.

"Overture Live" in Milwaukee

Fall 2003

ARTE TELEVISION DOCUMENTARY

A new documentary about Midori is scheduled for broadcast on the French/German ARTE channel on November 16, 2003. The director is Holger Preuße.

The German title is "..... und immer weiter - Die Geigerin Midori". The French title is "Midori - le violon céleste".

ARTE can also be received in Germany and France, as well as in Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Austria, Poland, Finland, Luxemburg, Romania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Denmark, Hungary, Lithuania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Norway and Sweden.

August 2003

MIDORI'S NEW CD

On August 19th, Sony Classical released Midori's new Mendelssohn/Bruch concertos CD with the Berlin Philharmonic in the US. The recording was released in Japan in June.

July 2003

MIDORI RETURNS TO ASPEN

For the first time in over 10 years, Midori returned for a brief visit to Aspen Music School and Festival in July 2003. In addition to her performance of the Dvořák Violin Concerto with the Chamber Symphony conducted by James Conlon, she worked with four violin students in a master class. Held on campus, the class attracted students, parents, and members of the general public who listened as the four young musicians discussed and tried different ideas with Midori.

The participating students were Christel Lee, Fabiola Kim, Anna Clearman, and Angel Valchinov.

Photo: Alex Irvin

Photo: Alex Irvin

June 2003

MUSIC SHARING ACTIVITIES IN JAPAN IN JUNE 2003

Midori spends early summer in Japan every year bringing live music to young people in schools, institutions, and hospitals. In 2003, she gave 17 Lecture Concerts with her pianist-partner, Koji Oikawa, and visited eight youth orchestras. During these visits, Koji and Midori shared their artistry and tales of their experiences, interspersed with stories about music and composers. Particularly during the Orchestra Visits program, there was much lively interaction and exchange of performances with the young people.

In addition to their concerts, Music Sharing, which has taken over from Midori Foundation Tokyo Office and been newly-organized to oversee Midori's outreach activities in Japan, presented several Lecture Concerts by traditional Japanese musicians. Japanese music is extremely diverse, with the two main traditions, Soukyoku and Gagaku as different as day and night.

The koto is the main instrument for Soukyoku. Much to the surprise of Midori, who is just starting to learn about traditional Japanese music herself (you can see Midori and Koji inspecting the wind instrument 'Sho' in the photo), the koto is a big-sounding plucked string instrument requiring much power to produce the sound. Unlike such Western instruments as the guitar and the harp, the koto can easily be heard without amplification. The koto group was led by Kazue Sawai, the grande dame of the koto and its culture.

Gagaku, the music of the Imperial Court, was led by Ko Ishikawa. He and two colleagues, playing wind instruments, made their presentations to the children wearing traditional attire. As they entered the gymnasia, which served as auditoria in each of the schools, they always brought a sense of calm and serenity. 'Sho,' which is one of the Gagaku instruments, is about 3000 years old and is one of the rare wind instruments that can produce double-notes.

For audiences in Tokyo and Osaka, there were also two special concerts that were open to the public. The program consisted of Western classical music and traditional Japanese music performed by Midori, Koji Oikawa, Kazue Sawai, Ko Ishikawa and all their colleagues. Special low priced tickets were available for children with the result that both concerts were filled with young people, either alone or with parents or friends. Before the performances - one at the Takemitsu Memorial Hall in Tokyo and the other at NHK Hall in Osaka - and during the intermission, audience members were encouraged to try out the traditional instruments. There were so many participants that the queue was very long.

Midori's personal account of her tour will appear in the coming months in 'Random Musings.'

Midori's 2003 summer schedule kicked off with a recital tour of Japan with pianist Peter Vinograde. Midori was particularly pleased to be performing some pieces for the first time in these concerts, namely the Mendelssohn, Schumann, and Janáček sonatas. Readers are invited to enjoy her program notes on the works in the Music Notes section. Peter Vinograde has contributed his own account of the tour. (click)

April 2003

AN ILLUSTRATED TALK

One morning during her April 2003 performance period in Chicago, Midori was asked to give a talk to some of the Chicago Symphony's donors. About 40 guests attended the event. A set of nine panels was specially prepared for the occasion containing archival photos and mementos from Midori's life and career.

SPRING 2003

REACHING OUT

I always enjoy the opportunity to meet and speak with students in the towns and cities where I perform. During the second half of my Spring (2003) US Recital Tour, a master class was arranged by one of the presenting organizations and a lecture followed by a question and answer session by another. At Columbus State University School of Music, I worked with four violin students - Laszlo Stan, Callie Knight, Barbara Careaga, and Solange Navarrete. And I was really pleased that at the University of Arkansas lecture/Q and A, there were students in the audience from several different departments.

Master Class at Columbus [Georgia] State University School of Music

April 2003

MIDORI & FRIENDS CELEBRATES ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY WITH A GALA

On April 29th friends and supporters gathered at the St. Regis "Roof" - the enclosed top floor of the St. Regis Hotel on Fifth Avenue in New York City - to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Midori & Friends. To learn more about Midori & Friends, which presents free educational programs by Midori, distinguished ensembles and teaching artists to underprivileged children in New York City public schools, click here.

The evening's host was Martin Bookspan, the longtime presenter of "Live from Lincoln Center" broadcasts, who provided the gracious segues between the different 'courses' making up the evening's program:

After an initial cocktail reception, Midori and pianist Peter Vinograde played a program of works by Massenet, Schumann, and Tchaikovsky.

One of the evening's highlights was the presentation of the Founder's Award to Mr. Norio Ohga, Chairman Emeritus of Sony Corporation, in recognition of his personal and professional support of Midori & Friends. Midori presented the award, which was accepted on Mr. Ohga's behalf by Sir Howard Stringer, Chairman and CEO of Sony Corporation of America and Vice Chairman of Sony Corporation. Sir Howard read a message from Mr. Ohga that said, "I believe that great music creates an invisible bridge between the heart of the performer and the listener. Midori is one of the few young violinists who can do this. Let's all support her in her efforts." Sir Howard himself stressed the importance of music education, commenting that, "In this time of dramatic budget cuts in our school system, we need organizations like Midori & Friends who help ensure that some of New York City's culturally disadvantaged schoolchildren have access to comprehensive music education programs. It's important that they appreciate and value the arts, and become active participants in the art as well."

Midori & Friends also took the opportunity of its 10th Anniversary Gala to pay special tribute to its Chairman Emeritus and founding board member, Peter D. Lederer. Alan Fischer, Board Vice Chair, expressed everyone's gratitude for Mr. Lederer's tireless dedication to the goals of the organization over the years.

The lights were then dimmed so the guests could watch a video by Gil Gilbert that captures the spirit of Midori & Friends programs through footage from classrooms, concerts, and interviews with students, teachers, and administrators.

Three woodwind students from PS 160, a partner school for eight years in Jamaica, Queens then made a surprise guest appearance, performing two jazz selections. The students, Dwayne, Temitayo, and Christian, all sixth graders, have been part of Midori & Friends's Adventures in Making Music program for three years; they also take instrument lessons through Juilliard's Music Advancement Program.

The evening concluded with an eloquent speech by the Chancellor of New York City's Department of Education, Joel Klein, about the importance of the arts and the vital role played by partnerships between the private and public sector. He urged everyone to consider ways in which he or she can each contribute to New York City's school system and to the arts.

April 2003

CHANGE OF PROGRAM FOR JUNE CONCERTS

The concerts in Elmau, Maulbronn and Detmold, Germany on June 8, 9 and 10 were intended to be chamber music programs in which Midori collaborated with violist Nobuko Imai, cellist Sadao Harada and pianist Robert McDonald. Unfortunately, Nobuko Imai has had to cancel for health reasons.

The three concerts have therefore been changed to recitals with Robert McDonald. The program will be:

Grieg:Sonata No.3
Schnittke:Sonata No.1
Brahms: Sonata No. 2 in A
Lutoslawski:Subito
Tchaikovsky:Waltz-Scherzo

We wish Ms. Imai a speedy recovery!

April 2003

MIDORI AND ROBERT MCDONALD APPEAR ON "SAINT PAUL SUNDAY"

Midori and Robert McDonald appeared on Minnesota Public Radio's popular program, Saint Paul Sunday on April 27th. The program is permanently available online. Please go to www.saintpaulsunday.org. Select "Program Catalogue".

To read about Saint Paul Sunday, please open http://sunday.mpr.org/about/index.html

March-April 2003

TENTH ANNIVERSARY SEASON FOR MIDORI & FRIENDS

Midori & Friends celebrated its tenth anniversary with several special activities in March and April 2003.

The week of March 10th, Midori and her pianist Tom Sauer performed for students at five public schools in New York City. A luncheon following one of the concerts was held to thank board members and supporters whose hard work and generosity has enabled Midori & Friends to develop programs with 17 partner schools this year. (If readers wonder why the accompanying photographs show the schools rather than the students, it is because showing the faces of the students is prevented by law in order to protect their privacy.)

On March 31st and April 3rd & 4th, in collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center, Midori & Friends's Adventure Concert Series will present jazz cellist Akua Dixon and her swing quartet in concert at several of the schools.

Midori founded Midori & Friends ten years ago, when she was only 21 years old herself. Alarmed by the steady disappearance of music instruction from public school curricula, she made a personal commitment to do what she could to remedy the situation. Midori started modestly, volunteering her services to play concerts at local schools in underserved neighborhoods, but she persevered to build an organization that has brought a wide variety of music programs into the lives of over 100,000 children in New York City's public schools.

Midori & Friends has a 13-member board and a staff of four. Each year the organization engages "teaching artists" for long-term residencies of up to 28 weeks in partner schools, to realize the organization's mission, which is "inspiring children through music". Midori & Friends staff work closely with the administrators of each school to tailor programs to their individual needs. The organization provides general music studies, comprehensive instrument instruction, on-site multi-cultural performances and workshops free of charge to the children in its partner schools.

For more information about Midori & Friends, please go to its website
www.midoriandfriends.org

March 2003

MIDORI VISITS VIOLIN MAKING SCHOOL

When I was performing in Salt Lake City during the week of March 3rd (2003), I had a kind invitation from the Violin Making School of America to come for a tour.

There, I met about 30 people who were students, faculty, and staff. There is also the Bow-Making School of America as well as a dormitory for the students on site. It was absolutely fascinating to see the creation of a violin taking place: the instrument (or bow) simply starts out as a block of wood.

I intend to write in more detail about my experience there over the next couple of months (to appear in Random Musings), but I wanted to share a photo of my fascinating visit with the web readers!

Violin Making School of America: www.violinmakingschool.com

Bow Making School of America:
www.bowmakingschool.com

A violin-making student "planing" the wood board. It will eventually become the side wood of the instrument.

March 2003

MIDORI RECEIVES "AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE" ON MARCH 20TH

Governor George Pataki of New York State presented Midori with an "Award for Excellence" on March 20th on behalf of the State of New York Division for Women.

Midori was selected as one of the recipients of the Governor's Award, which is presented in honor of Women's History Month and its theme in 2003, Women Pioneering the Future.

The New York State Division of Women acts as an advocate for women's issues by ensuring that their interests are considered in the formulation of public policy. It also provides opportunities for women to increase their knowledge and independence through conferences and publications.

February 2003

MIDORI GIVES PHILADELPHIA MASTERCLASS

Midori does not like to waste time. She also loves to teach. When there are days between concerts and it is humanly possible to get home, she flies or takes the train to New York to squeeze in extra lessons with her Manhattan School of Music violin students.

In Philadelphia in late February (2003), Midori was the soloist in the Sibelius Concerto with The Philadelphia Orchestra and Christoph Eschenbach on three consecutive evenings. (Read about her adventure getting to Philadelphia through a blizzard LINK) Although she did not manage to get back to New York in between concerts, she did the next best thing - she gave an open masterclass in the Kimmel Center's Innovation Studio for three local violin students.

Two of the students were pupils of Philadelphia Orchestra members and the third was a finalist in the Orchestra's Albert M. Greenfield Student Competition. The audience, made up largely of students and teachers from area music schools (including the Curtis Institute, Temple University and the Settlement Music School), Philadelphia Orchestra concertgoers and journalists, listened attentively as Anne Ku, Danbi Um and Alexandra Osborne tackled the first movements of Lalo's Symphonie espagnole, Prokofiev's Second Violin Concerto and Bruch's First Concerto.

February 2003

MIDORI RECEIVES ELIZABETH CHAPIN AWARD FOR VOLUNTEERS IN THE ARTS

January 2003

MEMORIES OF A RECORDING

I was in Berlin in January 2003 to make a recording I never thought I'd make: the Mendelssohn E Minor Concerto. I hadn't played it for over 10 years before the current season. This very fact gave me a nice opportunity to feel as a novice in a work that is so standard, and that has been a source of great inspiration to me. The recording will shortly be sent to the factory for processing along with another live recording, made last June, of the Bruch G Minor Concerto. Both were recorded with the Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Mariss Jansons. What was the difference between the Bruch recording and the Mendelssohn? The weather was atrociously hot in June for the Bruch and it was stingingly cold in January when we recorded the Mendelssohn. Here are a few photos taken during the January recording period:below and on the right.


Midori at playback session with producer Steve Epstein


Midori and the Sony Classical crew on stage at the Philharmonie in Berlin

2002

MIDORI ESTABLISHES
PARTNERS IN PERFORMANCE PROGRAM

On October 22nd 2001, Midori was awarded the Avery Fisher Prize, which came with a cash award of $50,000. She will devote these funds to a project that she calls Partners in Performance.

Each year Midori will donate her services to an institution or concert presenter in a U.S. community outside the major concert tour circuit. A key element of the program is the opportunity for the artists to engage with the audience after the performance, either in a question-and-answer period, an open interview or a reception. Proceeds from the concert will be used to fund projects, programs or equipment at the discretion of the Program grantee. Midori hopes to perform a number of Partners in Performance recitals every year and, ultimately, to extend the opportunity to other performing artist colleagues to participate in the program in order to benefit as many institutions as possible.

The objective for Partners in Performance is two-fold

To stimulate interest in chamber music in small communities outside the radius and without the financial resources of major urban centers with their established presenting organizations.