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Perlman before playing the National Anthem at Citi Field in New York City By Noah Perlman – Own work, CC in 2016 ,

Top 10 Astonishing Facts about Itzhak Perlman

Itzhak Perlman was born August 31, 1945. He is an Israeli-American Violinist, conductor , and music teacher. Perlman has performed worldwide, and throughout the United States, in venues that have included a State Dinner at the  White House honoring Queen Elizabeth II and at President Barack Obama’s inauguration. He has conducted the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Westchester Philharmonic. In 2015, he was awarded the  Presidential Medal of Freedom. He has received 16 Grammy Awards, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and four Emmy Awards.

As well as playing and recording the classical music for which he is best known, Perlman has also played  Jazz, including an album made with jazz pianist  Oscar Peterson and Klezmer . He has been a soloist in a number of film scores, such as the theme of the  1993 Film Schindler’s list by John Williams , which won an  Academy Award for Best Original Score. He was the violin soloist in the 2005 film Memoirs of a Geisha along with cellist Yo-yo-ma. Perlman  has played selections from the musical scores of the movies nominated for “Best Original Score” at the  73rd Academy Awards with Ma and at the  78th Academy Awards.

Here are the top 10 astonishing fact Itzhak Perlman that you should know;

1.He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom

In 2015, Perlman was one of the seventeen recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is an award that is presented by the President of the United State, in order to recognize people who have meritorious contributions towards the security or national interest of the United State, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. Other than the presidential medal of freedom, he has also received 16 Grammy awards, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and four Emmy awards.

2. He served as music advisor

Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra is an American Symphony Orchestra that is based in St. Louis Missouri. It is the second -oldest professional symphony orchestra in the United States, preceded only by the New York Philharmonic. During the artistic and public coup, it appointed Perlman to serve as music advisor from 2002 to 2004. He was to conduct two weekends each season and be involved in final auditions for the orchestra’s musicians. He was also to assist in selecting  music for concerts.

3.He has performed  worldwide 

GWB and Laura Bush at White House State Dinner pastry and entertainment for Queen Elizabeth II. White House photo by Shealah Craighead,

Perlman is an Israeli-American violinist, conductor and music teacher who has performed worldwide and throughout  the united States, in venues that include State Dinner at the White House  to honor Queen Elizabeth II, at the President Obama’s inauguration.  He also conducted the Detroit  Symphony Orchestra,  the Philadelphia Orchestra and  the Westchester.

On July 5, 1986, Perlman  also performed at the New  York Philharmonic’s tribute to the 100th  anniversary of the Statue of Liberty which was televised live on ABC. The  orchestra was conducted by Mehta and performed in Central Park.

While primarily a solo artist, Perlman has performed with a number of other musicians, who include Yo-Yo Ma, Pinchas Zukerman, Jessye Norman, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Isaac Stern and Yuri, Temirkanov at the 150th anniversary celebration of Tchaikovsky in Leningrad in December 1990.

4.He won the prestigious Leventritt competition 

In 1964, Perlman won the prestigious  Leventritt competition which  led his burgeoning worldwide career. Henceforth he established himself as a cultural icon and household name in classical music, by going to tour widely and extensive recording and performance career. Thus in 2015, he was awarded the  Presidential Medal of Freedom. He has received 16 Grammy Awards, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and four Emmy Awards.

He also appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show twice in 1958 and 1964,on the same show with the Rolling stone. In 1963 he mad his debut at Carnegie Hall.

5.He helped raise $360K for Ukraine 

Actor Richard Gere hosted a benefit concert for Ukraine at Carnegie Hall and raised $360,000 for direct relief, a humanitarian organization to provide with medical aid. This was possible with the help of Itzhak Perlman and other luminaries.

6.He is an Israeli-American 

Perlman was born in Tel Aviv and his parents are Chaim and Shoshana Perlman. They were Jewish natives of Poland and had independently immigrated to British mandate of Israel.

 While, he was 13 years old he moved to the U.S.  To study at the Juilliard School, with the violin teacher Ivan Galamian and his assistant Dorothy DeLa

7.He has synesthesia

Perlman being interviewed in the Genesis Prize 2016 Press Event, By Jerusalem Press Club from Jerusalem, Israel ,

Synesthesia is a perceptual phenomenon  that stimulates one sensory or cognitive pathway and lead to involuntary experiences in a second cognitive. He was therefore interviewed by Maureen Sedbergh for Tasting the Universe ,which was about the Synesthesia. 

8 He was was named Dorothy Richard Starling foundation Chair at Juilliard School

In 2003,he was named Dorothy RICHARD Starling Foundation Chair in violin studies after he succeeded his teacher Dorothy DeLay. He also teaches students one-on-one at the Perlman Music Program on Long Island. Toby Perlman his wife , eventually established Perlman Music Program in 1994, which later expanded, thus giving student a chance to have Perlman coach them before they play as venues.

9.He plays the Soil Stradivarius Violin of 1714

Perlman plays the Soil Stradivarius Violin of 1714 which was owned by Yehudi Menuhin .It  regarded as one of the finest Violins made during Stradivari’s the golden period. Perlman also plays the Guarneri del Gesù 1743 ‘Sauret’ and the Carlo Bergonzi 1740 ‘ex-Kreisler.

10.He was regarded as a child prodigy

Ed Sullivan congratulates 13-year-old Perlman after a concert (1958),By Hans Pinn – Public Domain,

A child prodigy is somebody who can step up to the stage of Carnegie Hall and play with an orchestra one of the standard violin concertos with aplomb. Perlman was discovered in1958 during a talent search and chosen to represent Israel on the Ed Sullivan  Caravan of the Stars. He had a perfect pitch that made him to be considered  prodigy.