World-Class Violinist Midoria to Perform Nov. 2

Midori will perform 7 p.m. CT Friday, Nov. 2, at Columbia Christian Church.

COLUMBIA, Ky. -- Lindsey Wilson College will welcome world-class violinist Midori to Columbia-Adair County for a special Nov. 2. concert.

The world-class violinist will perform a concert accompanied by pianist Özgür Aydin at 7 p.m. CT Friday, Nov. 2, at Columbia Christian Church, 206 Campbellsville St.

In addition to offering the region an outstanding cultural experience, the Nov. 2 concert will also leave a lasting impact on the area. Money raised from the concert will support the performance of classical and chamber music in the region.

Midori's concert is made possible in part by the nonprofit organization Partners in Performance. Founded by Midori, Partners in Performance co-presents chamber music concerts with the goal of stimulating interest in classical music in rural communities.

At the Nov. 2 concert, Midori is scheduled to perform pieces by J.S. Bach and Beethoven.

Called by The New York Times "a complete artist who knows what she wants," Midori is recognized for the evolution and scope of her 29-year career as a dazzlingly gifted performer. She is also well-known for the prescient and innovative community engagement initiatives to which she devotes a substantial amount of her energies and resources worldwide on an ongoing basis.

In recognition her work, Midori was given the prestigious Crystal Award by the World Economic Forum in 2012 in Davos, Switzerland, and she was named a Messenger of Peace in 2007 by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Midori has performed in more than 12 countries on four continents, including with Minnesota Orchestra, the National Symphony and the Royal Danish Orchestra. She made her first recording at the age of 14 for Philips. She also has recordings on Sony Masterworks, including a Grammy-nominated 2005 recording of the Paganini "Caprices for Solo Violin" and the 2008 two-disc The Essential Midori.

Midori has been credited for creating 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.

Her involvement with community engagement began in 1992. Upon learning of severe cutbacks to arts education in New York City public schools, Midori conceived of an organization called Midori & Friends. What started with individual personal visits by Midori to schools in underserved neighborhoods of the city grown into a multi-tiered 26-week course for school children, including instrument instruction, elementary music theory, choral singing and community concerts. More than 190,000 children have participated in Midori & Friends over the last two decades.

Midori established Partners in Performance with money she won as part of the Avery Fisher Prize in 2001. The organization's purpose is to stimulate and reinforce local interest in classical music, especially in smaller communities without the advantages of large urban centers. Proceeds from concerts in rural areas are used by the community to support its classical music programs.

Midori lives in Los Angeles. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and gender studies from New York University, and a master's degree in psychology. She is Jascha Heifetz Chair and Chair of the Strings Department at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music.

A reception will follow the Nov. 2 Lindsey Wilson concert at Columbia Christian Church. Tickets can purchased by contacting the LWC Alumni Office alumni@lindsey.edu or (270) 384-8400 or online at www.lindsey.edu/midoritickets.