SAINT LOUIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA NAMES ITZHAK PERLMAN AS MUSIC ADVISOR 
Appointment Takes Effect with Coming Season, Orchestra's 123rd

Acclaimed Violinist will Help to Shape Season,
Conduct Concerts and Attend Selected Major Symphony Events

ST. LOUIS, July 12, 2002 - The Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra has appointed violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman as music advisor for the 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 seasons.  In this role, Perlman, who has performed and conducted with leading orchestras all over the world including St. Louis, will provide counsel on structuring future seasons, participate in the audition process and other aspects of orchestra administration, and conduct at least two concerts per season.

"We are thrilled to work with Itzhak and have him as part of our team," said Virginia Weldon, chairman of the board of trustees.  "His artistic counsel and leadership over the next two years will enable us to conduct a more thorough search for our next music director and principal conductor.  St. Louis is fortunate to have a musician of Itzhak's stature commit his talent and energy to our Orchestra."

"I am very excited about becoming music advisor to the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra," Perlman said.  "All of my experiences with this great orchestra over more than 30 years, both as soloist and conductor, have been most gratifying.  I am greatly looking forward to this special association over the next two seasons."

The Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra recently began searching for a music director after Maestro Hans Vonk, who had held the position since September 1996, stepped down for health reasons in May, at the end of the 2001-2002 season.  With a small committee of board members, staff and musicians, the Symphony is working hard to identify its next music director - the organization's 13th since 1880.

Perlman, beloved for his charm and humanity as well as his talent, has come to be recognized by audiences all over the world for his incomparable sound and technique and his irrepressible joy in making music.  He is well known to generations of St. Louis audiences, having first performed here in December 1966 and most recently in December 2001.  He has appeared as conductor and soloist with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Boston Symphony, National Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the symphony orchestras of San Francisco, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Pittsburgh, Seattle and Toronto.  In January 2000, he was named principal guest conductor of the Detroit Symphony.
On television, Perlman has entertained and enlightened millions of viewers of all ages on shows as diverse as "The Late Show with David Letterman," "Sesame Street," the PBS series "The Frugal Gourmet," the "Tonight" show, the Grammy awards telecasts, several "Live From Lincoln Center" broadcasts and the PBS specials "A Musical Toast" and "Mozart by the Masters," both of which he hosted.  In 1992, the PBS documentary of his historic trip to the Soviet Union with the Israel Philharmonic, titled "Perlman in Russia" (Angel/EMI video), was honored with an Emmy award as best music documentary.  In July of 1994, Perlman was seen by millions of viewers when he hosted the U.S. broadcast of "The Three Tenors, Encore!" live from Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.  Perlman has been honored with four Emmy Awards, most recently for the PBS documentary "Fiddling for the Future," a film about the Perlman Summer Music Program and his work as a teacher and conductor there.

One of Perlman's proudest achievements was his collaboration with film score composer John Williams for Steven Spielberg's Academy Award winning film "Schindler's List," in which he performed the violin solos. 

Born in Israel in 1945, Perlman completed his initial training at the Academy of Music in Tel Aviv. He came to New York and soon was propelled into the international arena with an appearance on the "Ed Sullivan Show" in 1958. Following his studies at the Juilliard School with Ivan Galamian and Dorothy DeLay, Perlman won the prestigious Leventritt Competition in 1964.

The Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra has been a source of pride for the St. Louis region since its founding in 1880.  The Symphony has earned a reputation as a first-tier orchestra through the generations of excellent performances, through its mastery of a wide-ranging repertoire, and a tradition of partnering with leading musical artists from around the world.

	In addition to its regular concert performances at Powell Symphony Hall, the Symphony is an integral part of the St. Louis community with a variety of education and partnership programs.   Through its educational concerts at Powell and in classrooms all over the region through the E. Desmond Lee Fine Arts Education Collaborative, the Symphony encourages thousands of children to learn about classical music.  Free ensemble and individual performances in parks, churches and other venues throughout the area bring classical music to thousands of people of all ages.  In addition, the pioneering IN UNISON program partners the Symphony with urban African-American churches to further understanding of the connections between gospel, jazz and classical music.