World famous violinist performs with Glacier Symphony

Midori Goto, world-famous violinist and social activist, will present a lifetime of talent on April 8 as she performs with Glacier Symphony in Kalispell.

Her contemporaries include the likes of Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman. She will perform at McClaren Hall at the Wachholz Center at Flathead Valley Community College.

Midori’s performance will showcase her exceptional artistry in the deeply emotional Violin Concerto by Robert Schumann and Glacier Symphony will perform the dynamic masterpieces by Respighi, which illustrate scenes in Rome, Italy during the Romantic Era.

Midori was born in Osaka, Japan in 1971. Her mother was a professional violinist and she showed interest in the instrument from an early age. She was gifted a violin for her 3rd birthday and her mother began giving her lessons at that time. Midori would make her professional debut with the New York Philharmonic when she was just 11 years old. Midori is celebrating the 40th anniversary of her professional career, which mirrors the founding of Glacier Symphony and its own 40th season.

Since then, Midori has toured the globe and is known for her impeccable playing, even despite on-stage adversity. A well-known story surrounding Midori’s career is when she performed under famous conductor, Leonard Bernstein, at age 14 and played so intensely that multiple strings on her violin broke. Without missing a beat, she switched her smaller violin fitted to her for the concertmaster’s much larger violin and proceeded to play the piece flawlessly. Ever since Midori continues to display the same mastery of music and exceptional calm on stage that can only be fully understood by the audiences who see her play in person.

Her artistic talent is not only recognized by audiences, but also significant global art institutions. In 2021, she was a Kennedy Center Honoree for her lifetime artistic achievement. It is truly an accomplishment to bring in an artist of this caliber for our patrons in the Flathead Valley to enjoy. Before Midori stops in the valley, she will have been traveling around Europe at famous symphonies and philharmonics.

Midori transcends beyond her musical talent as an activist and educator, which makes her one of the most impactful violinists today. Throughout her career, Midori has created and participated in initiatives close to her heart. She founded Midori & Friends in 1992, which helps bring music education to thousands of underprivileged children in the United States and Japan. As a UN Messenger of Peace, Midori has shared music with children in countries all over the world.

It is rare to see an artist of her talent and experience in one’s lifetime and Glacier Symphony feels especially grateful to be presenting this artist to our local community. Midori and Glacier Symphony’s one-night-only performance will be at McClaren Hall at Wachholz College Center on the Flathead Valley Community College campus on April 8 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase online at http://www.glaciersymphony.org/concerts or by calling 406-407-7000. Adult ticket prices start at $39 per person. Child and College Student pricing is available.