Midori Goto
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese American
violinist. She made her debut at the age of 11 in a last-minute change of programming during a concert highlighting young performers by the New York Philharmonic
under Zubin Mehta
. When she was 21, she formed the philanthropic group Midori and Friends to help bring music to children in New York City. She is internationally renowned as a performer. In 2007, she was selected as a UN Messenger of Peace.
, Japan
. She was first taught the violin by her mother, Setsu Gotō. Her mother discovered her daughter's innate musicality at the age of two, when she found Midori humming a Bach
theme she had rehearsed a few days earlier. She started taking piano lessons first but quit within three months. On her third birthday, her grandmother gave her a 1/16 size violin, whereupon her mother decided to teach her the violin.
Midori gave her first public performance at the age of six, playing one of the 24 Caprices of Paganini
in her native Osaka, Japan. In 1982 she and her mother moved to New York City, where Midori started violin studies with Dorothy DeLay
at Juilliard Pre-College. As her audition piece, Midori performed Bach's 13-minute Chaconne
, generally considered one of the most difficult solo violin pieces ever written. In the same year, she made her concert debut with the New York Philharmonic
under Zubin Mehta
, a conductor with whom she would record many concertos on the Sony Classical label. In 1986 came her now legendary performance at Tanglewood
, during which she broke two E strings, first her own and then the concertmaster's after she borrowed his instrument. She finished playing the associate concertmaster's violin. Leonard Bernstein
, the conductor, knelt before her in awe. The next day the New York Times front page carried this headline: "Girl, 14, Conquers Tanglewood with 3 Violins."
When Midori was 15, she decided to leave Juilliard Pre-College after approximately four years there. About five years later in 1992, she formed Midori & Friends, a non-profit organization
that aims to bring quality music education to inner-city children in New York City. In 2001, Midori received the prestigious Avery Fisher Prize
and started a foundation program called Partners in Performance with the prize money. In subsequent years, Midori inaugurated two further community-based projects, the University Residencies Program and the Orchestra Residencies Program.
Midori is the recipient of the 25th Suntory Music Award
(1993).
In 2000, Midori graduated from the Gallatin School
at New York University
with a degree in psychology, and earned a master's degree in psychology from NYU a few years later. She has been appointed the Jascha Heifetz
Chair in Music at USC's
Thornton School of Music, where she currently chairs the Strings Department. Previously, she was on the faculty at Manhattan School of Music
. Midori is also a board member of the American String Teachers Association
. When she is not on the road, Midori lives in Los Angeles. She enjoys reading, writing, and attending the theatre. Her brother Ryu
is also a violinist.
"ex-Huberman" violin which is on lifetime loan to her from the Hayashibara Foundation. Her bows are made by Dominique Pecatte (two) and by François Pecatte (one).
Japanese American
are American people of Japanese heritage. Japanese Americans have historically been among the three largest Asian American communities, but in recent decades have become the sixth largest group at roughly 1,204,205, including those of mixed-race or mixed-ethnicity...
violinist. She made her debut at the age of 11 in a last-minute change of programming during a concert highlighting young performers by the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
under Zubin Mehta
Zubin Mehta
Zubin Mehta is an Indian conductor of western classical music. He is the Music Director for Life of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.-Biography:...
. When she was 21, she formed the philanthropic group Midori and Friends to help bring music to children in New York City. She is internationally renowned as a performer. In 2007, she was selected as a UN Messenger of Peace.
Biography
She is usually referred to simply as Midori. She was born in OsakaOsaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. She was first taught the violin by her mother, Setsu Gotō. Her mother discovered her daughter's innate musicality at the age of two, when she found Midori humming a Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
theme she had rehearsed a few days earlier. She started taking piano lessons first but quit within three months. On her third birthday, her grandmother gave her a 1/16 size violin, whereupon her mother decided to teach her the violin.
Midori gave her first public performance at the age of six, playing one of the 24 Caprices of Paganini
Niccolò Paganini
Niccolò Paganini was an Italian violinist, violist, guitarist, and composer. He was one of the most celebrated violin virtuosi of his time, and left his mark as one of the pillars of modern violin technique...
in her native Osaka, Japan. In 1982 she and her mother moved to New York City, where Midori started violin studies with Dorothy DeLay
Dorothy DeLay
Dorothy DeLay was an American violin instructor, primarily at the Juilliard School.She was born in Medicine Lodge, Kansas.-Career and education:...
at Juilliard Pre-College. As her audition piece, Midori performed Bach's 13-minute Chaconne
Solo Violin Partita No. 2 (Bach)
The Partita in D minor for solo violin by Johann Sebastian Bach was written during the period 1717–1723 and one scholar, Professor Helga Thoene, suggests this partita, and especially its last movement, was a tombeau, written in memory of Bach's first wife, Maria Barbara Bach , though this...
, generally considered one of the most difficult solo violin pieces ever written. In the same year, she made her concert debut with the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
under Zubin Mehta
Zubin Mehta
Zubin Mehta is an Indian conductor of western classical music. He is the Music Director for Life of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.-Biography:...
, a conductor with whom she would record many concertos on the Sony Classical label. In 1986 came her now legendary performance at Tanglewood
Tanglewood
Tanglewood is an estate and music venue in Lenox and Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It is the home of the annual summer Tanglewood Music Festival and the Tanglewood Jazz Festival, and has been the Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer home since 1937. It was the venue of the Berkshire Festival.- History...
, during which she broke two E strings, first her own and then the concertmaster's after she borrowed his instrument. She finished playing the associate concertmaster's violin. Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
, the conductor, knelt before her in awe. The next day the New York Times front page carried this headline: "Girl, 14, Conquers Tanglewood with 3 Violins."
When Midori was 15, she decided to leave Juilliard Pre-College after approximately four years there. About five years later in 1992, she formed Midori & Friends, a non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
that aims to bring quality music education to inner-city children in New York City. In 2001, Midori received the prestigious Avery Fisher Prize
Avery Fisher Prize
The Avery Fisher Prize is an award given to American musicians for outstanding achievement in classical music. Founded by philanthropist Avery Fisher in 1974, it is regarded as one of the most significant awards for American instrumentalists. The award is decided by members of the Avery Fisher...
and started a foundation program called Partners in Performance with the prize money. In subsequent years, Midori inaugurated two further community-based projects, the University Residencies Program and the Orchestra Residencies Program.
Midori is the recipient of the 25th Suntory Music Award
Suntory Music Award
The , previously known as the , designed to promote Western music in Japan, has been given by the Suntory Music Foundation since their establishment in 1969. The award is presented annually to individuals or groups for the greatest achievement in the development of Western or contemporary music in...
(1993).
In 2000, Midori graduated from the Gallatin School
Gallatin School of Individualized Study
The Gallatin School of Individualized Study is a small interdisciplinary college within New York University. Gallatin aims to provide a "small college" feel, while being located within one of the largest private universities in the United States. Students design their own interdisciplinary program...
at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
with a degree in psychology, and earned a master's degree in psychology from NYU a few years later. She has been appointed the Jascha Heifetz
Jascha Heifetz
Jascha Heifetz was a violinist, born in Vilnius, then Russian Empire, now Lithuania. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest violinists of all time.- Early life :...
Chair in Music at USC's
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
Thornton School of Music, where she currently chairs the Strings Department. Previously, she was on the faculty at Manhattan School of Music
Manhattan School of Music
The Manhattan School of Music is a major music conservatory located on the Upper West Side of New York City. The school offers degrees on the bachelors, masters, and doctoral levels in the areas of classical and jazz performance and composition...
. Midori is also a board member of the American String Teachers Association
American String Teachers Association
The American String Teacher's Association is a professional organization based in the United States for music teachers. It is the largest such national organization in the US for string teachers. It promotes learning to play string instruments in the next generation of American students, and...
. When she is not on the road, Midori lives in Los Angeles. She enjoys reading, writing, and attending the theatre. Her brother Ryu
Ryu Goto
is a Japanese-American concert violinist. Goto gained attention as a child prodigy, first performing at the age of seven in the Pacific Music Festival held in Sapporo, Japan. His debut tour of 12 cities of Japan, in 2006, was sold out.-Early life:...
is also a violinist.
Instrument
Midori plays on the 1734 Guarnerius del GesùGiuseppe Guarneri
Bartolomeo Giuseppe Antonio Guarneri, del Gesù was an Italian luthier from the Guarneri house of Cremona. He rivals Antonio Stradivari with regard to the respect and reverence accorded his instruments, and he has been called the finest violin maker of the Amati line...
"ex-Huberman" violin which is on lifetime loan to her from the Hayashibara Foundation. Her bows are made by Dominique Pecatte (two) and by François Pecatte (one).
Discography
- Bach/Vivaldi: Double Violin Concertos, Bach Concerto in D Minor, Concerto in E; Vivaldi Concerto in C Minor, Concerto in A Minor Op 3 No. 8; Philips 3/1986
- Paganini: 24 Caprices for Solo Violin, Op.1
- Bartók: Concerto No.1 for Violin and Orchestra, Op. Posth., Bartók: Concerto No.2 for Violin and Orchestra
- Midori "Live At Carnegie Hall"
- Dvořák: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in A minor, Op. 53, Dvořák: Romance in F minor for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 11, Dvořák: Carnival Overture, Op 92
- Encore!
- Sibelius: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D minor, Op. 47, Bruch: Scottish Fantasy, Op. 46
- Franck: Sonata for Violin and Piano in A Major, Elgar: Sonata for Violin and Piano in E minor, Op. 82
- Tchaikovsky: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Major, Op. 35, Shostakovich: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No.1 in A minor
- Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat Major, KV. 364/320d, Mozart: Concerto in D Major, KV. Anh. 56 (315f)
- Poulenc: Sonata for Violin and Piano, Debussy: Sonata in G Minor for Violin and Piano, Saint-Saëns: Sonata No.1 in D minor for Violin and Piano, Op. 75
- Midori's 20th Anniversary CD
- Mendelssohn: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in E minor, Op. 64, Bruch: Concerto No.1 for Violin and Orchestra in G Minor, Op. 26
- Bach/Bartók: Bach Sonata No. 2 in A minor BWV 1003, Bartók: Sonata No. 1 (with Robert McDonald)
- The Essential Midori