History

With the blessing and support of the late Lord Yehudi Menuhin — after years of collaboration, friendship, and
conversations about the future of classical music with Eduard and Laura Schmieder — Young Artists
International* was born in 1997.

Renowned musicians — an “A” list in classical music — joined as Artistic Advisors. With the help of these
distinguished artists, exceptional prize-winners from around the globe (age 19-32) have been discovered and
promoted, securing a future generation of artists who will pass on the traditions of the great musicians, and
are destined to be leading players in the classical music world.

Since its inception, iPalpiti Artists International (founded as Young Artists International) continuously fulfills its
mission: advancing the careers of young, professional, talented classical musicians and promoting peace and
understanding through music. Referred to as a “Musical Peace Corps,” iPalpiti’s international membership
brings unique insight to music making, creating a cultural network among 200+ artists from all over the
world, forging life-time friendships and promoting universal awareness and understanding.

The program grew from a six-artist festival in 1998 into an annual production of international significance,
with iPalpiti orchestral ensemble of international laureates and Maestro Eduard Schmieder as founder and
conductor. In addition to presenting the iPalpiti Festival of International Laureates at our home base in Los
Angeles, iPalpiti destinations as invited ensemble-in-residence have included Japan, France, Italy, Holland,
Belgium, Korea, Austria, Slovenia, Israel, performing to sold-out audiences in prestigious venues from the
Concertgebouw in Amsterdam to Carnegie Hall in New York.

Since 1998, iPalpiti Artists International has:
• Presented awards and scholarships to 232 outstanding young musicians in 42 countries.
• Presented more than 400 private and public concerts promoting young exceptional artists.
nationwide, including international tours.
• Presented annual “Benefactors Concert Series” throughout the years in private estates.
• Released 16 CDs of iPalpiti Orchestra & Soloists in live performances.
• Created the Mentor Program and Student Coalition for the Arts for 7-12th graders to nurture
the growth of interests, personal confidence and building a future audience.
• Released a short documentary about iPalpiti and its Festival.

In 2007, iPalpiti celebrated its 10th anniversary with a New York Carnegie Hall debut (to a rave review in the
New York Times). Establishing its bi-coastal presence, iPalpiti is an invited ensemble-in-residence at Temple
University in Philadelphia, and the “Benefactors Concert Series” has been presented in New York at the home
of Susan & Charles Avery Fisher since 2007.

In 2009, iPalpiti expanded its festival to the East Coast, with performances in Philadelphia (Kimmel
Center), New Jersey, and a finale concert at Carnegie Hall, and returned to the East Coast in 2011.

Laureate alumni have established sought-after solo and chamber ensemble careers, and have taken leading
positions in major international orchestras such as the Chicago, Berlin, Jerusalem, Monte Carlo, Bavarian State
and Munich Symphonies, London and Israel Philharmonic, Dresden Staatskapelle, etc. (see Alumni
Achievements). Several have exclusive recording contracts and prominent management and are
considered premier musicians of their generation, already making an enormous impact on the music world.

iPalpiti Artists International and its Festival has been the subject of praised feature articles in prestigious
national and international publications such as the STRAD magazine (1999, 2004), Strings magazine (1998,
2004), and the Los Angeles Times (1998, 2003, 2010), that called the Festival’s performances “take-yourbreath-
away demonstrations of musicianship and technique.”

* In May 2008 we officially changed “Young” name to iPalpiti Artists International to fully reflect the caliber & professionalism of the young artists of our flagship orchestral ensemble known as iPalpiti. Our 501(c)(3) status remains the same.