Nikki Chooi (Nikki Chooi), Violin

Biography

Nikki Chooi, born in 1989 in Victoria, Canada, started playing the violin when he was 4; his previous teachers include Burkard Godhoff, Trudi Conrad, Esther Tsang and Sydney Humphreys. He is currently studying with William Van der Sloot at the Academy of Gifted Youth at Mount Royal College in Calgary.

His most recent success includes winning the award for "Best Canadian" at the Quadrennial Montreal International Musical Competition in May 2006. He was also the youngest semi-finalist at the first China International Violin Competition 2005. In 2006, he won 3rd place at the Concertino Prague Chamber music competitions collaborating with pianist Avan Yu.

Other major accomplishment include: winner of CBC Pacific Spotlight 2005 award, winner of the 2005 Roberto & Mary Wood scholarship, studying with maestro Pinchas Zukerman at the National Young Artist Programme on full scholarship, and first prize winner of the Montreal Symphony Standard Life strings competition.
 
Nikki has appeared as soloist with the Montreal, Victoria, Calgary and Winnipeg Symphonies.