ITZHAK PERLMAN

Undeniably the reigning virtuoso of the violin, Itzhak Perlman enjoys superstar status rarely afforded a classical musician. President Reagan granted him a "Medal of Liberty" in 1986, and President Clinton awarded him the "National Medal of Arts" in December 2000. In December 2003, he received a Kennedy Center Honor celebrating his distinguished achievements.

He proudly possesses four Emmy Awards and fifteen Grammy awards for his television appearances and recordings. He collaborated with composer John Williams in Steven Spielberg's Academy Award-winning film, Schindler's List, in which he performed the violin solos. He can also be heard as the violin soloist on the soundtrack of Zhang Yimou's film, Hero (music by Tan Dun) and Rob Marshall's, Memoirs of a Geisha (music by John Williams).

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. He was Principal Guest Conductor of the Detroit Symphony from 2001 to 2005 and was Music Advisor of the St. Louis Symphony from 2002 to 2004. During the 2005-06 season, Mr. Perlman conducted the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, National Symphony, Seattle Symphony and Detroit Symphony; toured the West Coast as soloist with the National Symphony; and performed recitals throughout the U.S. and Japan. He closed the season with a tour with Pinchas Zukerman. He also performed at the 2006 Academy Awards and at the Juilliard School Centennial gala, broadcast nationally on Live from Lincoln Center. During the 2006-07 season, Mr. Perlman conducts the Toronto Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, and Oregon Symphony; performs with the New York Philharmonic and many other orchestras, and plays recitals across the U.S.

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 100th commencement ceremony in May 2005.