Nikki Chooi, Violin

Biography

Canadian violinist Nikki Chooi has been described as, “a model of taste and tonal refinement” (Boston Globe) and “vigorous and colorful” (New York Times). As First Prize Winner of the prestigious 2013 Michael Hill International Violin Competition, Nikki will be touring New Zealand in association with Chamber Music New Zealand, will perform with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, record under the Atoll label, and be presented in Australia's Musica Viva series and at Chicago's Harris Theatre. He is also a Laureate of the 2012 Queen Elisabeth Violin Competition, and First prize winner of the 2009 Irving M. Klein International String Competition in San Francisco.

He has performed as soloist with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, National Orchestra of Belgium, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the Victoria Symphony Orchestra, the Sinfonia Toronto, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, and the Highland Park Strings. 

As a recitalist, Nikki has performed in the Vancouver Recital Series, Debut Atlantic Recital Tour, Canadian National Arts Debut Series, Caramoor Rising Stars Series, among others. Also an avid chamber musician, he performs regularly at international festivals including Music from Angel Fire, the Ravinia Festival as a recipient of the Witz Memorial Scholarship, the Dresden Music Festival, and the Marlboro Music Festival. 

As winner of the Canada Council for the Arts Instrument Bank Competition, Nikki uses the 1700 "Taft" Stradivarius and a J. Voirin Bow through the generosity of Marylou Witz. He is currently pursuing graduate studies at the Juilliard School of Music under the tutelage of Ida Kavafian and Donald Weilerstein.