UW News

February 22, 2007

Violinist Kavafian to perform with University Symphony

Violinist Ani Kavafian, renowned as a soloist, chamber musician, and teacher, will perform with the University Symphony at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 1, in Meany Theater.

Kavafian, the Hans and Thelma Lehmann Distinguished Visiting Artist at the School of Music for 2006-2007, joins the symphony, conducted by Maestro Peter Erös, in Brahms’ powerful and compelling Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D major, op. 77. The orchestra will also play Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10.

Born in Istanbul, Turkey of Armenian descent, Kavafian began her musical studies with piano lessons at the age of three. At age 9, shortly after her family moved to the United States, she began the study of the violin with Ara Zerounian and, at 16, won first prize in both the piano and violin competitions at the National Music Camp in Interlochen, Michigan. Two years later, she began violin studies at the Juilliard School with Ivan Galamian, eventually receiving a master’s degree with highest honors.

Kavafian has appeared around the country with her sister, violinist and violist Ida Kavafian. Together in recital, and as soloists, they have performed with the symphonies of Detroit, Colorado, Tucson, San Antonio, and Cincinnati, and have recorded the music of Mozart and Sarasate on the Nonesuch label. They will celebrate the 25th anniversary of their first performance at Carnegie Hall in the fall of 2008.

As an Artist-Member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center since its founding in 1979, Kavafian has played more concerts with them than any other artist, touring with them throughout the U.S. and Canada and performing in their regular series at New York’s Alice Tully Hall. She is in great demand at summer music festivals such as Ravinia, Chamber Music Northwest, Seattle Chamber Music Festival, OK Mozart, Virginia Waterfront International Arts Festival, Music From Angel Fire, Bridgehampton and Sarasota Music Festival.

She is a member of Trio da Salo with violist Barbara Wesphal and cellist Gustav Rivinius. Kavafian has recently joined with clarinetist David Shifrin and pianist Andre-Michel Schub and will be performing as violinist and violist with them. Along with cellist Carter Brey, she is the artistic director of the New Jersey chamber music series “Mostly Music.” In addition, she is a regular performer with The American String Project — “the unique, conductorless string orchestra” — founded by UW School of Music artist-in-residence Barry Lieberman.

Tickets for the performance are $10 and are available at the Arts Ticket Office, 206-543-4880 or online at www.meany.org.

Kavafian will also offer at master class at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27, in Brechemin Auditorium. It is free and open to the public for observation.