Ida Kavafian — Viola & Violin

Ida Kavafian enjoys an international reputation as both a violist and violinist, with a career that encompasses solo, chamber, and festival leadership roles. An artist-member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and former violinist of the Beaux Arts Trio, she has been a central figure in American chamber music for decades. For 34 years, she served as Artistic Director of Music from Angel Fire in New Mexico, where more than 200 students from the Curtis Institute of Music have participated in its Young Artist Program. She is also the founding artistic director of Bravo! Vail Music Festival, which she led for ten years, and the co-founder of acclaimed ensembles including Opus One, Tashi, and Trio Valtorna.

Kavafian has premiered numerous important works, including concertos by Toru Takemitsu and Michael Daugherty, whose Fire and Blood she recorded with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Her versatility extends beyond the classical stage; she has toured and recorded with Chick Corea, Wynton Marsalis, and Mark O’Connor, bridging genres with equal artistry. She frequently appears in recital with her sister, violinist Ani Kavafian.

Born in Istanbul to Armenian parents, Kavafian studied at The Juilliard School under Oscar Shumsky. She made her debut through Young Concert Artists with pianist Peter Serkin and received the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant. Today, she divides her time between Philadelphia and Connecticut with her husband, violist Steven Tenenbom, where they also breed and train prizewinning Hungarian vizsla dogs.

A dedicated educator, Kavafian has been on the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music since 1998, where she received the 2013 Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching. She also teaches at The Juilliard School and the Bard College Conservatory of Music, shaping the next generation of performers with her artistry and guidance.