Next to be welcomed to the Finney Chapel stage by the Artist Recital Series is world-renowned violinist Midori, whose prodigious career has broken many records.
“Midori is literally a superstar in our field on so many levels,” Professor of Violin and Director of the Strings Division Sibbi Bernhardsson, OC ’95, said. “She is, at this point, a living legend. She has performed with every major orchestra in the world, every major concert hall in the world, and she’s been doing it since she was 11 years old.”
He is alluding to her debut with the New York Philharmonic at the age of 11, under the direction of Zubin Mehta for the orchestra’s annual New Year’s Eve concert. Just three years later, she gave what The New York Times described as a “technically near-perfect” performance of Bernstein’s Serenade for Violin and String Orchestra under his direction, breaking two E strings during the piece without interrupting the music.
“I guess, as a 14-year-old I thought, ‘Well, what’s the big deal?’” Midori said in an interview with PBS. “I broke the string, and it’s not the first time, not the last time.”
Associate Professor of Viola and Chamber Music Kirsten Docter, OC ’92, was at that legendary performance, playing in the string orchestra.
“She was this child prodigy,” Docter said. “She was mystical. I was at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute that summer, where she was playing the Leonard Bernstein. … And famously, this tiny little Midori in this beautiful green dress — I think it was in the fourth movement, she broke an E string. And so she really calmly went and took the concertmaster’s violin and just kept playing. There was no interruption. And then like a few minutes later, that E string broke, so she had to get yet another violin and she finished the concerto. It was just staggering.”
Midori also focuses her career on educational outreach and humanitarianism, founding many nonprofits. Her project Midori and Friends brings music programs to New York schools, hospitals, and community organizations. MUSIC SHARING does the same in Japan, with an emphasis on both Western classical and traditional Japanese music. She has also started Partners in Performance, which brings chamber ensembles to smaller communities in the U.S., and her Orchestra Residency Program is a residency for student orchestras globally, which includes master classes, public performances, and arts advocacy visits to local legislatures.
“It’s actually remarkable, the scope of work she does,” Bernhardsson said. “Even though we’re practically the same age, she has been one of my violin heroes my entire career. She’s a true inspiration, and what is one of the many remarkable things about her is how generous she [is] of her time.”
Docter shares similar sentiments.
“My musical heroes, of course, are older than me, because I was hearing them play when I was young, [but now we’re] seeing either my generation or even eventually the next generation of upcoming stars,” Docter said. “Ambassadors, I would call it more than just a star — these people that are really making a difference in the world. It’s so important for us to get to see that.”
This is not her first time at Oberlin. She first visited in 1993, when Bernhardsson was in his second year at the Conservatory.
“She was perfect as a teenager, but her artistry just keeps on evolving,” he said. “I’ve heard her perform a number of times throughout the years, but it’s this curiosity that she still has. She’s still looking for different things, so her artistry just keeps on evolving. I’m extremely excited about her recital because one of my most memorable recitals when I was a student at Oberlin was when she came here and played in a recital. It was an incredible inspiration.”
While at Oberlin, through the support of the Alice I. Takemoto ’47 String Residency series, Midori held master classes Wednesday at 7 p.m., Thursday at 7 p.m., and Friday at 4 p.m. She gave a career talk Thursday at 12:15 p.m, and will also give a public performance March 5 at 7:30 p.m. in Finney Chapel. Between now and then, she will offer 30-minute private lessons to every Conservatory violinist.
“From the get-go when she was approached for this, she said, ‘I want to interact with every violinist,’ so everybody’s getting a 30-minute lesson with her’” Docter said. “I think anybody with an E string at school right now is feeling pretty good about this week.”
The Alice I. Takemoto ’47 String Residency series was founded by its namesake, who was able to leave a Japanese Internment Camp to attend the Conservatory. She is still living, and right before the pandemic, a recital was given in her honor, featuring performances for and by her, celebrating her generosity. She has sponsored visits of a plethora of legendary musicians.
“I think that we’ve been really lucky with the people that we’ve brought and that the students have reacted so positively and really valued those opportunities,” Docter said.
High on this list of incredible musicians offering incredible opportunities is, indeed, Midori.
“She’s a living legend,” Bernhardsson said. “And her commitment to her craft, her commitment to music, is actually second to none.”
