Nepedia
Back to Discover
Fluent Reader
🎨

Itzhak Perlman

arts Maturity 7-9 war conflict politics Next article →

This article covers sensitive topics: war_conflict, politics. Parents can manage visibility in Parental Controls.

Itzhak Perlman is a world-famous violinist.

Ed Sullivan - Itzhak Perlman 1958
Ed Sullivan - Itzhak Perlman 1958

He is known for his incredible skill on the instrument. People love his music because he plays many different styles. He plays classical music, jazz, and even bluegrass music. He has also played beautiful music for famous movies. One famous example is the theme for the film Schindler's List. His talent has earned him many big honors. He won 16 Grammy Awards for his recordings. In 2015, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Perlman's journey with music began when he was very young. When he was three, he heard a violin recital on the radio. This moment inspired him to become a musician. His mother bought him a toy violin to practice. He even taught himself how to play simple melodies. At age five, he began studying at the Academy of Music in Tel Aviv. He studied there for eight years with a teacher named Rivka Goldgart. He gave his very first public recital when he was ten years old.

Life was not always easy for the young musician. Perlman contracted polio when he was four years old. Because of this, he uses leg braces and crutches to walk. He also uses an electric scooter to move around. When he performs, he plays the violin while sitting down. Even with these challenges, he became a leading virtuoso. He moved to the United States at age 13 to study. He attended the Juilliard School in New York City to learn from great teachers.

Perlman has performed on many important stages around the world.

He appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show twice when he was a teenager. In 2007, he played at a state dinner for Queen Elizabeth II at the White House. He also played at the 2009 inauguration for Barack Obama. He uses very special instruments to make his sound. One is the Soil Stradivarius, which was made in 1714. He also plays a violin called the Guarneri del Gesù 1743 'Sauret'.

Today, Perlman spends time helping the next generation of musicians.

The GENESIS Prize 2016 Press Event (27289506693)
The GENESIS Prize 2016 Press Event (27289506693)

He teaches students at the Juilliard School. He also runs the Perlman Music Program on Long Island. His wife, Toby Perlman, helped start this program in 1994. It began as a summer camp for talented young musicians. The program helps students find friends and practice together. This way, they do not have to feel alone while they learn. It helps them build a community of fellow musicians.

409 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (3)
File:Ed Sullivan - Itzhak Perlman 1958.jpg
Ed Sullivan - Itzhak Perlman 1958.jpg
File:ItzhakPerlmanWhitehouse2.jpg
ItzhakPerlmanWhitehouse2.jpg
File:The GENESIS Prize 2016 Press Event (27289506693).jpg
The GENESIS Prize 2016 Press Event...
More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.