About the Tarumi Violin Children’s Foundation for the Arts
The Tarumi Violin Program, founded in 1986, is composed of talented youngsters of varied ethnic and racial backgrounds form the Greater New York Metropolitan area. Under the dynamic leadership of YUKAKO TARUMI, these motivated young musicians are spreading a message of love and world peace through the universal language of music.
This culturally diverse group had the rare distinction of performing two times in U.N. General Assembly Hall, in 1996, they were awarded the United Nations 50th Anniversary Medal by former Secretary General Boutros Ghali in recognition of their accomplishments and efforts to promote world harmony. The Tarumi Violinists have also performed for 4 consecutive generations of UN Secretaries Generals, Boutros Boutros Ghali, Kofi Annan, Ban Ki-moon, and António Guterres, as well as many other VIPs at the annual UN Peace Bell Ceremony every year since 1992.
Amongst the other world leaders for whom they have performed are former President Clinton, at a White House holiday celebration, and Pope John Paul II at the Vatican. At that time they taped a concert for the Vatican Radio Station which was broadcast three times around the world.
The international travels of this talented group include five trips to Japan on “International Friendship Tours”, where they performed for UNICEF, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony, Nagasaki Memorial Ceremony, the Nursing ET Home for the Survivors of the Atomic Bomb and for the orphans and homeless of the Kobe earthquake.
In northern Spain, they performed as guests of the Spanish Government and the University Of Santiago De Comopostela, as the University celebrated its 500 year anniversary. They were also honored to perform at the Academy Philharmonic of Rome, the oldest school of music in Rome, which boasts of guest performers that include Debussy, Rossini, Korsakov, and Casals. In June, 2000, the ensemble traveled to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where they performed at the opening ceremonies of the International Rotary Convention for over 30,000 attendees. While there, they also had the honor of meeting and performing for the Argentinian President, Hoya de la Rua. That same summer, they embarked on a concert tour of Taiwan, performing twelve concerts in a nine-day period, and have been invited to return for an additional concert tour in the summer 2002.
In this country, the Tarumi Violinists have p
erformed in numerous distinguished venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, at the State and City official celebrations of Israel’s 50th anniversary, hosted respectively by Governor Pataki and Mayor Giuliani,
at NYC’s centennial celebration in Flushing Meadows Park, and, on several occasions, at the Dance Theater of Harlem in programs hosted by Arthur Mitchell. They have gained further public recognition through performances for Manhattan Cable Television, Cable Television of Great Neck and
as featured performers with the Riverside Orchestra, Queensborough Orchestra, the North Shore Symphony, the Great Neck Philharmonic, the Band of Long Island, Queens Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestra Celebrate.
The children have also used their talents to support worthy charities by participating in benefits for organizations such as UNICEF, the Coalition for the Homeless, and the Ronald McDonald House, and have performed at numerous nursing homes, hospitals, and schools for disabled children. Just three days after the tragedy at the World Trade Center, they responded to a request of the United Nations to participate in a moving ceremony at which Secretary General Kofi Annan and other UN officials mourned the devastating loss of life, and made speeches of condolence and support. Two weeks later, the children performed for NYC firefighters to honor them for their acts of bravery and to bring them some relief from the daily horror.
Their performances and the activities for spreading the message of world peace continue. They have received “Proclamation” from Senator Frank Padavan in April, 2004. They also had concert tours in China, Sweden, Portugal, and Italy. In 2004, they performed twice for Queen of Sweden, once in New York, and the other in Sweden. Moreover, in the summer, 2006, the Tarumi Violinists had a “World Peace” concert tour with United Nations Singers for the mission of spreading the message of world peace. They also performed for “Earth day” and “Day of African Child”, and “Peace Day”, all for the United Nations.
The Tarumi Violinists have also been performing annually for the 9/11 commemoration at several events including the Memorial Concert for 9/11 victims at Poppenhusen Institute in College Point and at local fire departments in NYC.
In 2016, they were awarded by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan for their diligent effort and contributions to build friendship and world peace.
In February 2021, they performed for the Japanese Emperor’s birthday celebration during an online reception held at UN Ambassador Ishikane’s residence, where they played the Japanese national anthem, “Kimigayo”.
In 2025, they performed at Osaka World Expo as a part of Peace Day event where people from all around the world gathered to raise awareness for world peace.
The enthusiasm and focus of this group are direct consequences of the energy and dedication of its leader, Yukako Tarumi. Ms. Tarumi, who has won many competitions, came to the United States to study with the world renowned violin teacher Professor Josef Gingold. Prior to that, she had studied with Professors Akiko Tatsumi and Saburo Sumi at Toho, the famous music conservatory of Japan. Ms. Tarumi imparts to her students not only a passion for music but a genuine caring for their development as musicians and human beings. Her students, in turn, have chosen to use their musical talents to bring joy to others.
The Tarumi Violinists have rightfully been labeled by the media as “Musical Ambassadors of Peace.”