Midori's involvement with community engagement began in earnest in 1992. Then just 21 years of age, she started an organization to bring music to underserved neighborhoods in the U.S. and Japan. What started with just individual appearances by Midori has over the last 20 years evolved into a New York City-based program, which now boasts a multi-tiered 26-week course for school children, including instrument instruction, elementary music theory, choral singing and community concerts. Over 200,000 children have participated in Midori & Friends programs in every borough of New York City in the succeeding years (www.midoriandfriends.org).