World-renowned violinist Midori and pianist Robert McDonald have sold out Ford Hall in the James J. Whalen Center for Music. Their performance on Friday, March 21, will be the third and final offering in the yearlong Ithaca College Concerts Series "Introduction and Preludes."
The concert, which includes works by Grieg, Beethoven, Webern, and Schnittke, will begin at 8:15 p.m. Judith Linden, a 1973 Ithaca College graduate and member of the board of trustees who serves as the executive director of the Midori & Friends foundation, will give a pre-concert lecture at 7:30 p.m. in the Iger Lecture Hall.
The year 2002 marked the 20th anniversary of Midori's professional debut. Her career began on New Year's Eve in 1982, when Zubin Mehta invited her at the age of 11 to be a surprise guest soloist for the New York Philharmonic's traditional concert. During the 2002-3 season she is performing with many of the international orchestras and in the key concert halls around the world that have played an important role in the development of her career.
Midori became a member of the Manhattan School of Music faculty in 2001. Recording exclusively for Sony Classical, she has numerous discs of concerti as well as several discs of violin and piano repertoire. Her many awards include the 2001 Avery Fisher Prize and the 1990 Los Angeles Music Center's Dorothy B. Chandler Performing Arts Award. The 1734 Guarnerius del Gesu "ex-Huberman" violin she plays is on a lifetime loan to Midori from the Hayashibara Foundation.
In addition to dazzling audiences with her impressive technique and vibrant interpretations, Midori also supports music education through her foundation. Founded in 1992, Midori & Friends is a nonprofit organization that provides music education, instrument instruction, and concerts to children who might not otherwise have the opportunity for involvement in the arts. The organization is now partnered with numerous public schools in New York City, bringing free music education to the children.
Robert McDonald also has a strong commitment to music education, serving on the faculties of the Juilliard School and the Peabody Conservatory. Winner of several awards, including the Gold Medal at the Busoni International Piano Competition in Italy, he has performed extensively as a solo recitalist and as a recital partner to Midori, Isaac Stern, and other prominent artists.
Contributed by Erik Kibelsbeck
https://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20030311152553923