Violinist Midori, Pianist Robert McDonald Will Perform

Violinist Midori, Pianist Robert McDonald Will Perform

Violinist Midori, who first came to public attention at age 10 when she debuted with the New York Philharmonic, and her partner-pianist Robert McDonald have accepted the designation of Christian A. Johnson Endeavor Foundation Artists-in-Residence at Colgate University for the 1999-2000 academic year. During the year they will present two free public concerts and a master class. The first concert will be held on Thursday, October 7, at 8:00 p.m. in Colgate Memorial Chapel.

Now age 27, Midori has developed beyond the technical finesse that marks a child prodigy and has reached depths of emotional maturity that mark her as a true artist. The NY Times, in a recent review of her newest Sony Classical CD, comments, "Today she sounds far more spontaneous and increasingly personal, projecting an expressive fluidity and a gutsy emotive force." In spite of a worldwide performance schedule, Midori devotes a significant portion of each season to her work with Midori & Friends, a nonprofit organization that she founded to provide concerts and other educational activities to elementary schools in areas where the children might otherwise not be exposed to classical music.

Robert McDonald is Midori's longtime pianist-partner. The interplay between the two artists is almost psychic, as each urges the other to reach their fullest potential. He currently serves as a member of the piano faculty at the Peabody Conservatory.

The concert on October 7 will feature Mozart's Sonata in A Major, K. 526, Corigliano's Sonata, Schoenberg's Phantasy, Op. 47, and Franck's Sonata in A Major. Admission to the Chapel for this free concert is limited to the first 750 concertgoers. Doors will open at 7:20 p.m.

For more information, or a complete 1999-2000 Concert Calendar, call the Colgate Concertline at 315-228-7642.

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Contact: Rebecca Costello
Office of Communications
315-228-7417; [email protected]