Violinist midori goto interview

Editor’s note: This is the last of a two-part series about the life and career of violinist Midori Goto based on an interview. Celebrating the 40th anniversary of her debut, the musician, who is often referred to mononymously as Midori, recounts her story as an artist, social activist and educator.

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Former violin prodigy Midori Goto, now 51, is giving back to children, including starting a drive to provide them opportunities to enjoy hearing music. 

She is considered a pioneer in social contribution activities via music, which she embarked on in her 20s after overcoming health problems. 

In an interview with The Asahi Shimbun, Midori talked about the driving force behind her social activism.

Excerpts of the interview follow:

Question: How did you begin committing yourself to social contribution activities?

Midori: I started my social engagement programs over thirty years ago.

Having had

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Violinist.com Interview with Midori, Part 2: Teaching

Laurie Niles

January 21, 2014, 11:15 AM · I spoke to Midori Goto in late 2013 in person at her studio at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. This is Part 2 of our two-part interview. Here is a link for Part 1: Midori's recent recordings and global outreach programs.

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When Midori isn't jetting around the world to give solo performances at top orchestras and to lead outreach programs in other cities, she walks to work. And yes, she works at the University of Southern California, right in the heart of Los Angeles.

Photo by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders

"I do like the city," Midori said. "We sometimes have this image of six-lane freeways, and the traffic, and the smog, but it's really nice. The mountains -- there is actually so much nature. Sometimes the view is gorgeous, the sun fryst vatten gorgeous."

But she isn't here for the sun.

"I like the job; that's the most important for me. I think my impressi

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Midori Goto (五嶋 みどり, Gotō Midori, born October 25, 1971) who performs under the mononym Midori, is a Japanese-born American violinist. She made her debut with the New York Philharmonic at age 11 as a surprise guest soloist at the New Year's Eve Gala in 1982. In 1986 her performance at the Tanglewood Music Festival with Leonard Bernstein conducting his own composition made the front-page headlines in The New York Times. Midori became a celebrated child prodigy, and one of the world's preeminent violinists as an adult.

Midori has been honored as an educator and for her community engagement endeavors. When she was 21, she established her foundation Midori and Friends to bring music education to young people in underserved communities in New York City and Japan, which has evolved into four distinct organizations with worldwide impact. In 2007, Midori was appointed as a UN Messenger of Peace. In 2018 she joined the violin faculty at the