Midori Receives the Prestigious Crystal Award from the World Economic Forum

02.03.12
Midori
World Economic Forum

In recognition of her community engagement and service, our founder, Midori, was given the prestigious Crystal Award at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on January 25th, 2012.

Midori's two-decade commitment of tireless energy on behalf of children and their communities began with the founding of our organization when she was only 20 years of age. Upon learning of severe cutbacks to arts education in New York City, she conceived of Midori & Friends to begin to restore music programs for children. What began with just individual personal visits by Midori to schools, hospitals, and institutions in underserved neighborhoods has over the last 20 years blossomed into our current suite of instructional classes, music appreciation sessions for young learners, world music concerts and workshops, and family/community concerts that reach over 15,000 children and their families each year.

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 include the cellist Yo-Yo Ma, “El Sistema” founder Jose A. Abreu, and Indian dancer Mallika Sarabhai.

“I’m very excited to be receiving the Crystal Award,” Midori said in advance of the Davos summit. “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.”

In addition to her founding and continued leadership of Midori & Friends, Midori has created Partners in Performance to stimulate and reinforce local interest in classical music; her Orchestra Residencies Program, designed to reach out to young musicians in youth orchestras in the U.S.; and Music Sharing, a Tokyo-based organization that brings Western classical music and traditional Japanese music of the highest caliber to young people throughout Japan.

Midori will next participate in two Midori & Friends programs here in New York City in late February, when she will perform at our partner school P.S. 229Q in Woodside, Queens, as well as at our community partner, the Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital in Upper Manhattan.

We extend our admiration and gratitude to Midori for all that she has done and continues to do to enhance the educational experience and lives of others.