Ani Kavafian

Ani Kavafian continues to enjoy a prolific career as a soloist, chamber musician, and professor. She has performed with the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. She has appeared at the White House on three separate occasions for three different presidents. Her numerous recital engagements have included performances in Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall as well as in major venues across the country. She has conducted workshops in Taiwan alongside Leon Fleisher and Arnold Steinhardt and performed and gave master classes for young artists in Korea and recently recorded a series of master class videos for the Korean company, LG. Ms. Kavafian has been a guest concertmaster of the Seattle Symphony, and was concertmaster of the New Haven Symphony for 8 years appearing frequently as a soloist with both orchestras. 

Together with cellist Carter Brey, Ani was director of Mostly Music, a chamber music series in New Jersey for 25 years. Having taught at Mannes College, Manhattan School of Music, McGill University and at Stony Brook University, she is now a full Professor at Yale University and Coordinator of the String Department. In 2024, she received Yale’s prestigious Sanford Award for Excellence in Music. Ms. Kavafian has appeared with her students and colleagues at Carnegie's Zenkel Hall numerous times. Ms. Kavafian, who plays a 1736 Stradivarius, has received the Avery Fisher Career Grant and is president of the Young Concert Artist Alumni Organization. She has been featured on many network and PBS television specials. Her recordings include the Bach sonatas with Kenneth Cooper, Mozart sonatas with Jorge Federico Osorio, Henri Lazarof's Divertimento with the Seattle Symphony, Tod Machover's Forever and Ever with the Boston Modern Orchestra and the piano trio of Justin Dello Joio with Jeremy Denk and Carter Brey. Performing frequently with her sister, violinist, Ida Kavafian, in recital as well as with the symphonies of Detroit, Colorado, Tucson and San Antonio, they have recorded the music of Mozart and Sarasate on the Nonesuch label. 

Born in Istanbul, Turkey of Armenian heritage, Ani Kavafian began piano lessons at the age of three. At age nine, in the United States, she began the study of the violin with Ara Zerounian and eventually with Mischa Mischakoff. She went on to study violin  at the Juilliard School with Ivan Galamian receiving a Master of Science degree with highest honors. During the 2025-26 season, Ani Kavafian will continue her longtime association as a violinist with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, performing in NYC as well as on tour. She is in high demand as a visiting professor and conducts master classes all over the United States. Summer travels in 2026 will take Ms. Kavafian to the Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival, the Heifetz International Institute, and festivals in Bridgehampton, Norfolk, and Angel Fire, NM.