Ida Kavafian facts for kids

Ida Kavafian is a talented American musician. She was born in Istanbul, Turkey, on October 29, 1952. Ida plays both the violin and the viola, which are string instruments. She is known for her amazing skills in classical music.

Ida Kavafian's Musical Journey

Ida Kavafian was born in Turkey. Her parents were from Armenia. In 1956, when Ida was four years old, her family moved to America. She started learning to play the violin in Detroit at age six.

Ida had many great teachers. Some of them were Ara Zerounian and Mischa Mischakoff. She also studied with Oscar Shumsky and Ivan Galamian. She learned from these teachers at the famous Juilliard School from 1969 to 1975.

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

Ida started performing with her sister, Ani Kavafian, in 1983. They played together at Carnegie Hall. From 1983 to 1984, Ida toured with the famous jazz musician Chick Corea.

Ida was a member of the Chamber Music Society for many years. She also played with the Beaux Arts Trio from 1992 to 1998. In 1998, she started her own music group called Opus One. She formed this group with Steven Tenenbom, Anne-Marie McDermott, and Peter Wiley.

Today, Ida Kavafian teaches music to students. She teaches at the Curtis Institute of Music, the Juilliard School, and the Bard College Conservatory of Music. She plays a special J. B. Guadagnini violin made in 1751. She also plays a Moes and Moes viola made in 1987.

Ida plays many different types of classical music. This includes music from composers like Mozart, Beethoven, and Mendelssohn. She also plays music from the 20th century. A composer named Toru Takemitsu even wrote a special music piece just for her.

Ida Kavafian also started two important music festivals. These are the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival and the Music from Angel Fire.

Recordings

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

• With Judith Blegen, Frederica von Stade and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
  • Judith Blegen and Frederica von Stade: Songs, Arias and Duets (1975)

• With Tashi
  • Messiaen: Quartet for the End of Time (1976)

• With Chick Corea
  • The Leprechaun (album with Chick Corea - Piano, Ida Kavafian - Violin) (1976)
  • Children's Songs (album with Chick Corea - Piano, Fred Sherry - Cello, and Ida Kavafian - Violin) (1984)
  • Septet (1984)

• 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 (2009)