Isaac Stern was an American violinist and conductor who was widely regarded as one of the greatest violinists of the 20th century. He was known for his passionate playing style and his commitment to the promotion of classical music. He was also a renowned teacher, having taught many of the world's leading violinists. Stern was the first violinist to record all of the Beethoven Violin Sonatas and the first to perform all of the Bach Violin Concertos. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1987 and the Kennedy Center Honors in 1990.