Music becomes her

Watching her move with the music, it is clear that violinist Midori feels every note she plays. Curving at the waist with the lower, softer notes, then arching her back and standing briefly on her toes with the higher, punchier ones, Midori becomes the music — so much so that she can play Brahms and Beethoven perfectly with her eyes closed.

When she performs, she thinks only of the music. “I can’t even think about what I’m thinking; I feel the music,” she says.

Midori spent Nov. 8-13 on campus as part of the Universities Residencies Program, which she created in 2003 to strengthen ties among artists, students and faculty. Each residency involves two visits of a week each; Midori will return to campus in spring 2006.

While here, Midori and pianist Charles Abramovic gave formal performances and rehearsals for music-theory students, revealing the intricacies underlying their partnership.

“There’s an extra dimension when you perform with someone a lot,” says Abramovic. “It’s like there’s a sort of time warp or alternate universe, but you’re in it together.”

Midori’s career as a violinist was launched in 1982 when she was only 11. In 1992, she founded the nonprofit organization Midori & Friends, which brings music education to public-school children in New York City. She earned a bachelor’s

degree in psychology and gender studies from New York University in 2000, and she now is working toward a master’s degree in psychology.

Midori’s work with UW students ranged beyond music and performance to include discussions about psychology, music and children’s literature, media and cultural studies, and publicity in the classical music business.

“Midori is unique among musicians of her stature, says Ralph Russo, cultural arts director of the Wisconsin Union and a lecturer in liberal studies and the arts. “Many musicians are willing to teach a master class or give a guest lecture, but very few are willing to immerse themselves into such a full week of teaching and meeting with music and non-music majors.”

David Huntsman, a junior, participated in one of Midori’s master classes. “Performing for Midori was remarkably inspiring,” he says. “I was certainly anxious about the performance, and it was unlike anything I had previously experienced. Her mastery of performance and unique perspective that she shared on the piece was one of a kind. It was refreshing, compelling and successfully cured me of nerves. I thought it was a marvelous experience.”

Midori’s residency involved the schools of Music, Business and Education, and the Department of Psychology.