Brandeis Stories

By Kennedy Ryan
January 24, 2024

Midori Gotō, a visionary violinist, activist, and educator, is the 2023 recipient of the Brandeis Creative Arts Award. 

The Brandeis Creative Arts Award recognizes excellence in the arts and the lives and works of distinguished, active American artists. The award was established in 1956, just eight years after the University’s founding, at a time when there was no comparable award in higher education. The Creative Arts Award and residency, a program of the Brandeis Division of Creative Arts, is made possible by the Poses Fund.

In the four decades since her debut with the New York Philharmonic at age 11, Midori has performed with many of the world’s most prestigious orchestras and has collaborated with world-renowned musicians including Leonard Bernstein, Yo-Yo Ma, and many others. She is the newly appointed Artistic Director of Ravinia Steans Music Institute’s Piano & Strings program.

The violinist hosted a master class in Rapaporte Treasure Hall on December 1, 2023. She received her award from President Ron Liebowitz on January 18, 2024 in the Slosberg Music Center. The ceremony was followed by a recital performance accompanied by pianist Ieva Jokubaviciute.

“Midori was selected because of her visionary artistry exhibited over decades of performances in the world’s great concert halls and cultural centers,” said Neal Hampton, director of the Brandeis-Wellesley Orchestra and chair of the award’s planning committee.

“Equally important is her impressive work through her non-profit organizations, including Midori and Friends, dedicated to enriching the lives of children by providing tuition-free music education programs in NYC, and Partners in Performance, which brings chamber music to small communities throughout the country. A United Nations Messenger of Peace, and a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2021, Midori’s dedication to building connections between music and the human experience makes her one of the most vital artists of our time.”