Faculty

Ida Kavafian

violin

Ida Kavafian born in Istanbul, Turkey, came with her family to the United States when she was three. She began her studies at age six with Ara Zerounian in Detroit, continuing with Mischa Mischakoff, and ultimately earned her M.Music degree from the Juilliard School, where she was a student of Oscar Shumsky. She made her New York debut at the 92nd Street Y, with pianist Peter Serkin, as a winner of the Young Concert Artists International Auditions. She was a recipient of the Avery Fisher Career Grant in 1988.

Kavafian has appeared as soloist with leading orchestras throughout the world. Her commitment to contemporary music has led her to perform in many world premieres of works by composers as varied as Toru Takemitsu, who wrote a concerto for her, and jazz greats Chick Corea and Wynton Marsalis, with whom she has toured and recorded. She was a founding member of the innovative group TASHI. She has toured and recorded with the Guarneri Quartet (as violist) and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, of which she is an artist member. She and her sister, Ani, perform together regularly in recital and with major orchestras. They appeared together on CBS Sunday Morning and NBC's Today Show, and they have recorded for Nonesuch. Kavafian was the violinist of the legendary Beaux Arts Trio for six years. She has recently formed a new ensemble, called Opus One, along with pianist Anne-Marie McDermott, violist Steven Tenenbom, and cellist Peter Wiley.

For 20 years she has been the artistic director of Music from Angel Fire. She founded the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival and was the festival's music director for 10 years. She also teaches at the Curtis Institute.
Phone: 845-758-7196