Canadian violinist Nikki Chooi is in his first year of studies at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. This year he performed in recital at the National Arts Centre in the Debut Series on the heels of a successful tour of Atlantic Canada as part of the Debut Atlantic Tour. Mr. Chooi was a semi-finalist in the XIII Tchaikovsky International Violin Competition where he was the recipient of two Special Prize Awards. He has won awards in several other international competitions including Best Canadian Competitor at the Quadrennial Montreal International Music Competition in 2006 and the Shean String Competition in Edmonton in 2007. He was also a semi-finalist in the 2007 Michael Hill International Violin Competition in Auckland New Zealand. Last year he performed in a showcase with Canada’s leading violinists at the Chan Centre in a benefit for the education of girls in rural China. This performance, in which he collaborated with Patricia Hoy, was broadcast on CBC Radio.

Mr. Chooi has performed with Canada’s leading orchestras and will be the featured soloist in the Western Canadian Tour of the National Arts Centre Orchestra. Mr. Chooi will continue to fit in a busy international performing schedule with his musical studies.