Dear Members of Peabody Community:
Peabody’s greatest strength is built on its outstanding faculty as well as a burgeoning group of faculty/artists that we invite to campus to work with our students. With this commitment to Excellence as one of Peabody’s Four Pillars, I am thrilled to announce that renowned violinist Midori has accepted our invitation to serve as a distinguished visiting artist here at Peabody throughout the 2016-17 academic year. Recognized worldwide as one of the legendary violinists of our times, an extraordinary performer, a gifted educator, and an innovative community engagement activist, Midori will visit campus four times during the academic year to conduct master classes at both the Conservatory and the Preparatory and deliver interdisciplinary presentations to other Johns Hopkins academic divisions. You can see the press release announcing this important appointment here.
Midori’s exceptional commitment to education and community engagement has been recognized by no less than the United Nations and the World Economic Forum. I can’t think of an artist more accomplished, or better suited, to serve in this role and share with our campus community the important lessons of building a multi-faceted, holistic musical career, and who more clearly demonstrates what it means to be a citizen-artist in the 21st Century.
Currently Distinguished Professor and Jascha Heifetz Chair in Violin at the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music, Midori plays the 1734 Guarnerius del Gesu ‘ex-Huberman.’
In 1992 she founded Midori & Friends, a non-profit organization which brings music education programs to underserved New York City schoolchildren each year. Music Sharing, based in Japan, and Partners in Performance, based in the U.S., are among several of Midori’s social and educational initiatives that bring people closer to each other through music. In 2007, Midori was named a Messenger of Peace by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
I know you will join me in extending a warm welcome to Midori for her first campus visit on November 5, 2016.