Violinist Midori joins USC staff

Celebrated violinist Midori Goto has joined the faculty of USC’s Thornton School of Music in the Jascha Heifetz Chair in Music, the university announced Monday.

As part of her teaching responsibilities, the 32-year-old Midori, who made her professional debut with the New York Philharmonic at age 11, will form two new student quartets in which she will play as an equal member.

“I choose to perform with students because it lends a new perspective to learning, as well as to teaching,” Midori says. “In this setting, both teacher and students are involved and immersed in the ‘assignment,’ and we can all share and hear ideas as a group. This is not to say that this technique is any better in any way than objective instruction; it is simply a different way to go about it.”