Itzhak Perlman Conductor

Undeniably the reigning virtuoso of the violin, Itzhak Perlman enjoys superstar status rarely afforded a classical musician. He marks an important milestone during the 2008-2009 season: he will celebrate the 50^th anniversary of his American debut. Beloved for his charm and humanity as well as his talent, he is treasured by audiences throughout the world who respond not only to his remarkable artistry, but also to the irrepressible joy of making music, which he communicates. In January 2009, Mr. Perlman was honored to take part in the Inauguration of President Barack Obama, premiering a piece written for the occasion by John Williams and performing with clarinetist Anthony McGill, pianist Gabriela Montero, and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. In December 2003 the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts granted Mr. Perlman a Kennedy Center Honor celebrating his distinguished achievements and contributions to the cultural and educational life of our nation. In May 2007, he performed at the State Dinner for Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, hosted by President George W. Bush and Mrs. Bush at the White House.

Highlights of Mr. Perlman’s 2008-2009 season include performances with Pinchas Zukerman at Washington’s National Symphony and Ottawa’s National Arts Centre, and a gala event at Carnegie Hall with Yo-Yo Ma and Emanuel Ax. In March 2009, the Festival of the Arts BOCA devoted its festival to a celebration of his anniversary with concerto, chamber music and klezmer performances, as well as a closing concert with Mr. Perlman as conductor of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. He also appears with students from the Perlman Music Program in a three-concert series at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and in recital at Chicago’s Symphony Hall.

In addition to his many orchestral and recital appearances throughout the world, Mr. Perlman performs as conductor with leading orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Philharmonic, the Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Israel Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony and the New York Philharmonic. This season marks his first as Artistic Director of the Westchester Philharmonic Orchestra. He was Music Advisor of the St. Louis Symphony from 2002 to 2004, and was Principal Guest Conductor of the Detroit Symphony from 2001 to 2005.

He proudly possesses four Emmy Awards and fifteen Grammy awards. He performed at the 2006 Academy Awards and at the Juilliard School Centennial gala, broadcast nationally on Live from Lincoln Center. He collaborated with composer John Williams in Steven Spielberg’s Academy Award-winning film Schindler’s List, in which he performed the violin solos.

Mr. Perlman devotes considerable time to education, both in his participation each summer in the Perlman Music Program and his teaching at the Juilliard School, where he holds the Dorothy Richard Starling Foundation Chair. He was awarded an honorary doctorate and a centennial medal on the occasion of Julliard’s 100^th commencement ceremony in May 2005.

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