Published: 14 December 2011
Category: Artists

In recognition of her 20-year devotion to community engagement work worldwide, Midori will be given the prestigious Crystal Award at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on 25 January 2012.

Midori's organization Midori & Friends was founded in 1992 in reaction to severe cutbacks to arts education in the U.S. What started with just individual personal visits by Midori to schools, hospitals and institutions in underprivileged neighbourhoods, has over the last 20 years blossomed into a number of programmes to bring music to those who don’t have access to the arts. In New York City, Midori & Friends conducts a multi-tiered course for school children of up to 26 weeks, featuring instrument instruction, elementary music theory, choral singing and community concerts. Over the years, almost 200,000 children have participated in Midori & Friends programmes in every borough of New York City. Visit the organisation's website to learn more.

Since then Midori has established numerous initiatives: Music Sharing in 1992 which augments the Japanese music curriculum by bringing Western classical music and traditional Japanese music of the highest calibre to young people throughout Japan; Partners in Performance in 2001 which stimulates and reinforces local interest in classical music; and her Orchestra Residencies Program in 2004 which reach out to young musicians in youth orchestras in the U.S.

“I’m very excited to be receiving the Crystal Award,” commented Midori, “It serves as an encouragement for my future work. I greatly look forward to meeting the World Economic Forum’s community of socially conscious world leaders at Davos.” The World Economic Forum bestows the Crystal Award on artists who have used their art and influence to contribute to international society. Winners of the Award in previous years have included the cellist Yo-Yo Ma, “El Sistema” founder Jose A. Abreu, and Indian dancer Mallika Sarabhai.

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