Ida Kavafian facts for kids

Ida Kavafian (Armenian: Այտա Գավաֆեան) was born on October 29, 1952, in Istanbul, Turkey. She is an American classical musician who plays both the violin and the viola. She is known for her amazing talent and for performing with many famous musicians and groups.

Ida's Early Life and Music Journey

Ida Kavafian was born in Turkey to Armenian parents. Her family moved to America in 1956. When she was six years old, she started learning to play the violin in Detroit. She studied with several great teachers, including Oscar Shumsky and Ivan Galamian, while attending the Juilliard School from 1969 to 1975.

Winning Competitions

Ida first became well-known when she won the Vianna da Motta International Violin Competition in Lisbon in 1973. This was a big achievement! In 1978, she won the Young Concert Artists International Auditions. This led to her first major concert in New York City at Carnegie Hall. That same year, she joined the Tashi ensemble, a music group. She also won a silver medal (second place) at the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis in 1982.

Playing with Others

Ida often performed with her sister, Ani Kavafian, who is also a talented violinist. They played together at Carnegie Hall in 1983. Ida also toured with the famous jazz musician Chick Corea in 1983-84.

She was a member of the Chamber Music Society from 1989 to 1993 and again from 1996 to 2002. She also played with the Beaux Arts Trio, another well-known music group, from 1992 to 1998. In 1998, she started her own group called Opus One.

Teaching and Instruments

Today, Ida Kavafian shares her knowledge by teaching music. She teaches at the Curtis Institute of Music, the Juilliard School, and the Bard College Conservatory of Music.

She plays a special violin made in Milan in 1751 by a famous maker named J. B. Guadagnini. She also plays a viola made in 1987 by Moes and Moes.

Music She Plays

Ida Kavafian plays many different kinds of classical music. This includes older works by composers like Mozart, Beethoven, and Mendelssohn. She also plays music from the 20th century by composers such as Ruth Crawford Seeger and Toru Takemitsu. Takemitsu even wrote a special music piece (a concerto) just for her!

Ida also founded two important music festivals: the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival and the Music from Angel Fire. These festivals bring together musicians and music lovers.

Music Recordings

Ida Kavafian has recorded many albums with different musicians and groups. Here are some of them:

With Judith Blegen, Frederica von Stade and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center

• Judith Blegen and Frederica von Stade: Songs, Arias and Duets

With Tashi

• Messiaen: Quartet for the End of Time

With Chick Corea

• The Leprechaun
• Children's Songs
• Septet

With Beaux Arts Trio

• Hummel Piano Trios
• Arensky Piano Trios

With Guarneri Quartet

• Mozart String Quintets Nos. 1, 3, 4, and 6

With Mark O'Connor

• Mark O'Connor String Quartets Nos. 2 & 3