Timothy Chooi, Nikki Chooi, Eunice Kim
Biography Timothy Chooi, Nikki Chooi, Eunice Kim
Timothy Chooi
Der kanadisch-amerikanische Geiger Timothy Chooi wird gleichermaßen vom Publikum und von der Presse gefeiert, zuletzt für seinen 2. Preis beim Königin Elisabeth-Wettbewerb in Brüssel 2019. Einen Namen hatte er sich bereits in den Jahren zuvor als Preisträger zahlreicher anderer Wettbewerbe gemacht; so gewann er den Internationalen Joseph Joachim Violinwettbewerb in Hannover und den Schadt-Violinwettbewerb 2018 und war Preisträger des Michael Hill Violinwettbewerbs in Neuseeland, des Montreal Symphony Manulife Wettbewerbs und bei der Verbier Festival Academy als ›Most Outstanding Musician‹ mit einem Auftritt als Solist beim Verbier Festival 2020.
Timothy Chooi hat mit allen großen Orchestern seiner kanadischen Heimat gespielt, außerdem trat er als Solist mit dem Brussels Philharmonic unter Stéphane Denève, dem Santa Barbara Symphony, dem Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège, dem Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra und dem Malaysian Philharmonic auf. Mit der Jeunesses Musicales Canada unternahm er ausgedehnte Recital-Touren, u.a. zum Ravinia Festival und in die Carnegie Hall. Wiedereinladungen für die kommende Saison sollen ihn zum Toronto Symphony Orchestra, zum Montreal Symphony Orchestra mit Kent Nagano, zum National Arts Centre Orchestra Ottawa und zum Orchestre National de Belgique führen. Weitere kommende Höhepunkte sind Auftritte mit dem Russian National Orchestra unter Mikhail Pletnev und dem Sichuan Symphony Orchestra. Weltweit tritt Timothy Chooi außerdem in Recitals auf, u. a. in Seoul, Brüssel, Hannover, Antwerpen, Philadelphia, Vancouver und beim Menuhin Festival in Gstaad.
Timothy Chooi wurde 1993 in Victoria BC, Kanada, geboren und gab im Alter von sieben Jahren sein Debüt mit dem Victoria Symphony Orchestra, zusammen mit seinem Bruder Nikki Chooi. Er studierte am Curtis Institute of Music in Chicago bei Ida Kavafian sowie im Masterprogramm an der Juilliard School mit Catherine Cho. Zu seinen Mentoren zählen Pinchas Zukerman, Pamela Frank und Patinka Kopec.
Timothy Chooi dankt dem National Arts Council of Canada für die großzügige Leihgabe seiner Windsor-Weinstein Stradivari von 1717.
Nikki Chooi
Praised for his powerful and poetic performances, internationally acclaimed violinist Nikki Chooi has established himself as one of the most charismatic, versatile, and engaging performers of his generation. He has earned worldwide recognition as a Laureate of the Queen Elizabeth and Tchaikovsky Competitions, and as First Prize winner of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition, the Klein International String Competition, and the Montreal Symphony’s ManuLife Competition.
Concertmaster of the Grammy Award–winning Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Santa Fe Opera Orchestra, Nikki is recognized for his leadership on the world’s most prominent stages. In demand internationally, he was formerly concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and has appeared as guest concertmaster with the Boston Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Houston Symphony, Sydney Symphony, and Macao Orchestra.
Nikki has brought his artistry to major stages around the world, most recently in critically acclaimed solo appearances at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium and at Lincoln Center in New York. As a soloist, he has performed widely across North America, Europe, and Asia, with engagements ranging from the National Orchestra of Belgium and Chamber Orchestra of Wallonie to the Auckland Philharmonia, Puerto Rico Symphony, National Taiwan Symphony Festival Orchestra, and Hong Kong Philharmonic. Beyond the concert hall, he is a frequent guest at international festivals including Marlboro, Ravinia, Rockport, and La Jolla SummerFest in the United States; Dresden, Moritzburg, and Kammermusik Utrecht in Europe; Musica Viva in Australia, and Chamber Music New Zealand.
Deeply passionate about collaboration, Nikki frequently performs with his brother, violinist Timothy Chooi — a partnership that reflects both family and artistic connection. He has also shared the stage with distinguished musicians including Yo-Yo Ma, JoAnn Falletta, Clayton Stephenson, Michelle Cann, and the innovative ensemble Time for Three. Committed to nurturing the next generation of musicians, Nikki has given classes at world-renowned institutions including the Curtis Institute of Music, the Morningside Music Bridge Program, San Francisco Conservatory, as well as leading teaching residencies across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
Born and raised in Victoria, Canada, Nikki began his musical journey at the Victoria Conservatory, Mount Royal Conservatory, Morningside Music Bridge Program, and the National Arts Centre Young Artist Programme before completing formal studies at the Curtis Institute of Music and the Juilliard School under the guidance of Joseph Silverstein, Ida Kavafian, and Donald Weilerstein. Nikki’s artistry has been captured on the Naxos, Beau Fleuve, and Atoll labels.
Nikki performs on a 1713 Stradivarius graciously provided by the company CANIMEX INC. from Drummondville, Quebec, Canada, a 1749 G.B Guadagnini on extended loan through the Stradivari Society of Chicago, and a 2016 Joseph Curtin. Nikki proudly endorses Thomastik-Infeld strings.
