Isaac Stern was a renowned American violinist and conductor who was born in 1920 and died in 2001. He was known for his passionate performances and was considered one of the greatest violinists of the 20th century. He was also a humanitarian, having founded the Isaac Stern Chamber Music Society and the Jerusalem Music Centre. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1987 and was inducted into the Classical Music Hall of Fame in 2008.