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Isaac Stern 1920-2001

Considered one of the 20th century's most renowned and recorded musicians, the violinist Isaac Stern toured with American troops through the United Service Organizations during World War II, helped open the Soviet Union to cultural exchange during the Cold War, and worked to save Carnegie Hall from a planned destruction in 1960. In 1979, he received an unprecedented invitation from the People's Republic of China to tour that country. In addition to interpreting the works of Mozart, Beethoven, and Hayden, Stern was known for supporting unknown composers and younger musicians. He received a 1987 Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement.