midori eugene residency builds momentum for arts advocacy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FROM
Contact: Lisa Calevi - Communications Coordinator - lisa.calevi@eugenesymphony.org - Ph: 541-687-9487 X 115
Cell: 541-515-8908
MIDORI EUGENE RESIDENCY BUILDS MOMENTUM FOR
ARTS ADVOCACY, IMPACTING 5,000 PEOPLE
The Eugene Symphony was selected as one of only two orchestras nationwide to participate in the 2011-
12 Midori Orchestra Residencies program, in collaboration with Arts Umbrella.
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EUGENE (May 2, 2012)—Dozens of toddlers, unusually quiet and rapt with attention as
classical music star Midori read “Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin” to them at the Eugene Downtown
Public Library, a budding String Academy musician shyly asking the world-renowned violinist
to help her tune her instrument, and scores of youth orchestra musicians who will now boast “I
played in concert with Midori,” were among the 5,000 people impacted by Midori’s Eugene
Symphony residency, held April 23-29.
Midori’s passion for arts education is legendary and was in full view during her weeklong
residency in Eugene last week. The violinist interacted with more than 1,000 students from 35
schools in the Eugene, Springfield and Bethel school districts, as well as 15 students from
Douglas County. Midori made personal connections with an additional 900 audience members
who attended the symphony’s outreach and education events, including a masterclass, several
public guest lectures, including one for students at the University of Oregon School of Music and
Dance. An additional 3,000 children and adults attended one, or both, of Midori’s performances,
which included the April 26 concert Midori & The Eugene Symphony and the April 28 concert,

Youth Orchestras of the Willamette Valley, featuring Midori. According to Midori, “I can’t think
of my life without my community work, going to the schools, and talking to the kids.”
Midori, who made frequent entries in her blog during the residency, wrote on April 26 that “All
is well, and I am happily engaged with all the activities. Every school visit with the Arts
Umbrella students has been unique. The kids have been most enthusiastic though very polite and
extremely well-behaved. The weather isn’t behaving at all, however. In the course of about 45
minutes today, we had sunshine to a drizzle, topped by a hail storm and strong winds, back to
sunshine!”
Weather aside, Midori also had kind words for the musicians of the Eugene Symphony who
spent time with the Douglas County and Arts Umbrella Youth Orchestras over the past weekend,
coaching them in preparation for their April 28 performance with the violin superstar. Midori
observed that students responded well to working with the symphony’s music director, Danail
Rachev who, she added, “provided some extremely important tips” during rehearsals. To read
more about her exciting week in Eugene, visit Midori’s blog at orpobservations.wordpress.com.
The violinist, who performs approximately 100 concerts a year, makes advocating for music
education a priority. To coincide with Midori’s residency, the Eugene Symphony organized an
Arts Advocacy summit, “Enriching Children’s Lives Through Arts Education,” which took place
at South Eugene High School on Friday, April 27. The summit focused on informing the
community about its role in advocating for arts education and provided concrete tools for doing
so. Over 50 people attended, including Oregon State Representative Nancy Nathanson and
Maestro Rachev. The summit kicked off with a brief performance of Leclair’s Sonata for Two
Violins No. 5 by Midori and Moni Simeonov—a doctoral student studying under the acclaimed

violinist at the University of Southern California who accompanied Midori on the residency—
followed by a Q&A, moderated by Arts Umbrella board member Thomas Thai. Midori, who
spoke passionately about the role that music education plays in a child’s life, commented, “There
are lots of studies that show how music helps you do better in math or reading and that’s
wonderful. But we must remember that music has its own value.” Simeonov elicited a laugh
from the audience when he introduced himself as a native of Bulgaria, observing that many great
musicians seem to hail from that country (Maestro Rachev is also a native). He said, “Music is
like studying biology or math, or playing soccer. In Bulgaria, it’s part of a well rounded
education.” Later in the program, Frank Diaz, Assistant Professor of Music at the University of
Oregon School of Music and Dance presented “Body, Mind, and Soul: A Lifetime of the Arts,” a
talk based on his current research in the field of arts education. An Arts Umbrella String Quartet
also performed at the event.
Summit attendees learned about federal issues affecting the arts, and were encouraged to
volunteer for the Eugene Symphony and Arts Umbrella, join a local Parent Teacher Organization
to advocate for music in the schools, and spread the word about the value of arts education
through the experiences of those who have been fortunate enough to experience the power of
music. A website, www.artsusa.org/get_involved/advocate.asp, helps people advocate nationally
for arts education.
Since establishing her Orchestra Residencies program in 2004, Midori has participated in
orchestra residencies throughout the United States, including the symphonies of Duluth, Des
Moines, Albuquerque, Winston-Salem, Elgin, and Mobile. In 2012-13, Midori’s orchestra
residencies will take her to Little Rock, AR and Reading, PA.

Midori Residency support was provided by Slocum Center for Orthopedics and Sports Medicine,
Umpqua Bank, The George Rode Group (Autohaus, Euro-Asian Automotive, and Stadium
Automotive). Additional support provided by the Nils & Jewel Hult Endowment Arts
Foundation of Western Oregon Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation, Meyer Memorial
Trust, and the James F. & Marion L. Miller Foundation.
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