Stern, Isaac (1920-2001), was an outstanding American violinist. He performed and recorded violin concertos from nearly all musical periods with virtually every major orchestra in the world. Stern also gained praise for his performances in chamber music, especially with pianist Eugene Istomin and cellist Leonard Rose. Stern helped in the career development of numerous violinists, including Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman, and Schlomo Mintz. In 1960, Stern led a successful movement to save Carnegie Hall in New York City from demolition. He became president of the Carnegie Hall Corporation, which is responsible for cultural programs at Carnegie Hall. Stern’s influence helped create the National Endowment for the Arts in 1964.
Stern was born in Kremenets, in western Ukraine, on Oct. 21, 1920, and was brought to the United States when he was about 1 year old. He made his performing debut with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra at the age of 15 and earned his first major recognition with a recital at Carnegie Hall in 1943. Stern wrote an autobiography, My First 79 Years (1999). He died on Sept. 22, 2001.
