MIDORI, violin

Since her debut at the age of 11 with the New York Philharmonic 32 years ago, the violinist Midori has established a record of achievement which sets her apart as a master musician, an innovator, and a champion of the developmental potential of children. She has founded four initiatives to provide greater access to the arts: Midori & Friends, Partners in Performance, Orchestra Residencies Program, and Music Sharing. Named a Messenger of Peace by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in 2007, she has created a new model for young artists who seek to balance the joys and demands of a performing career at the highest level with a hands-on investment in the power of music to change lives.