Timothy Chooi

Powerful and finely nuanced interpretations, sumptuous sonorities, and a compelling stage presence are just a few of the hallmarks of internationally acclaimed violinist Timothy Chooi. A popular soloist and recitalist, he is sought after as much for his passionate performances as for his wide-ranging repertoire. Recent honors include Second Prize, Belgium’s world-renowned 2019 Queen Elisabeth Competition, First Prize, the 2018 Joseph Joachim International Violin Competition in Germany, and the First Prize, the 2018 Schadt Violin Competition in the USA. Recently he was the recipient of one of Europe’s most coveted prize, “Prix Paternot” which recognizes a promising and accomplished international artist at the prestigious Verbier Festival in Switzerland.

Recent and upcoming engagements include returns to the Verbier Festival in Switzerland, l’Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, the Belgian National Orchestra, Wiener Concert-Verein as well as his debuts with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Deutsches Sinfonieorchestrer Berlin with Jukka-Pekka Saraste and l’Orchestre Symphonique de Québec with Michael Stern.

Chooi’s most recent artistic collaboration was a tour with Anne-Sophie Mutter and the Mutter Virtuosi where they performed across Europe’s most notable concert halls such as the Musikverein in Vienna, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris, and the Berlin Philharmonie. Recent performances include engagement with Luxembourg Chamber Orchestra, Toronto Symphony Orchestra with Peter Oundjian and a live on-air recital on New York City’s WQXR classical radio station; and recital tours across Europe, North America and Asia. In addition, Chooi has also collaborated with Brussels Philharmonic under Stéphane Denève, with Santa Barbara Symphony, Orchestre Philharmonique de Liége, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, and the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra.

In addition to his awards, Timothy Chooi’s numerous honors include the third prize at the 2015 Michael Hill Violin Competition in New Zealand and Grand Prize at the 2010 Montreal Symphony Manulife Competition in Canada. He was a laureate at the 2014 Menuhin International Competition and the recipient of the Vadim Repin Scholarship Award in New York City.

In addition to his performing career is a founding member of The VISION Collective, a three-year-old ensemble of musicians and composers that utilizes music to highlight refugee and immigrant voices and stories, raising awareness for the global refugee crisis, and brings together individuals from all walks of life together to create diverse and meaningful art. This ensemble was the recipient of the 2020 Harold W. McGraw Family Foundation’s The Robert Sherman Award for Music Education and Community Outreach.

Chooi studied at the Juilliard School under the tutelage of Catherine Cho. His mentors include Anne-Sophie Mutter, Pinchas Zukerman, Patinka Kopec, Ida Kavafian, and Pamela Frank. He recently graduated from Juilliard’s prestigious Artist Diploma program and the Professional Studies program at the Kronberg Academy with Christian Tetzlaff.

An avid educator with a passion for sharing his international experience with young musicians, Timothy Chooi is the Professor of Violin at the University of Ottawa. He performs on the “Titan” Guarneri Del Gesu made in 1741 from CANIMEX INC., from Drummondville, Quebec, Canada and the 1709 “Engleman” Stradivarius on loan from the Nippon Music Foundation in Japan.