Yehudi Menuhin was born in New York of Russian-Jewish parents. He made his violin debut at the age of seven with the San Francisco Symphony in Lalo’s Symphonie Espagnole. A recital in New York followed a year later. He made his historic debuts at the age of eleven, in Paris and at the Carnegie Hall. Yehudi Menuhin played in Berlin at twelve and at thirteen in London, launching himself at an early age on a lifelong career that was about to take him all over the world, playing with leading conductors and orchestras.

From 1969 to 1975, Yehudi Menuhin headed the International Music Council, a non-governmental organization funded by UNESCO. He also contributed to the institution of International Music Day – celebrated every year with cultural events on October 1, in many countries – and launched the IMC/UNESCO Prize.

Yehudi Menuhin was designated UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in 1992.