The versatile Violinist and Violist Ida Kavafian is Artistic Director of Music from Angel Fire (for thirty-four years); co-founder of Tashi, OPUS ONE, Trio Valtorna and Bravo! Colorado (Artistic Director for ten years); an Artist of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center; former violinist of the Beaux Arts Trio; faculty member of The Curtis Institute (she holds the Nina von Maltzahn Chair in Violin Studies and received the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching), Juilliard School and Bard College.

She has premiered numerous new works including concerti by Toru Takemitsu and Michael Daugherty, toured and recorded with jazz greats Chick Corea and Wynton Marsalis as well as Fiddler/Composer Mark O’Connor, appeared with the Guarneri, Orion, Shanghai and American String Quartets, and had a solo feature on CBS Sunday Morning.

Some of Ms. Kavafian’s many recordings include two world premieres representing her wide range – Fire and Blood by Michael Daugherty with the Detroit Symphony, Neeme Järvi conducting, and Mark O’Connor’s String Quartets. She also appears frequently with her sister, violinist Ani Kavafian in recital and concerto. Their television credits include features on CBS Sunday Morning and NBC’s Today Show.

Born in Istanbul, Turkey of Armenian descent, a graduate of Juilliard studying with Oscar Shumsky, she was presented in her NY debut under Young Concert Artists with pianist Peter Serkin.

Her violin was made by J.B. Guadagnini, in Milan in 1751.

Together with her husband, violist Steven Tenenbom, she breeds, trains and shows prize-winning Vizsla show dogs, including the 2003 #1 Vizsla in the US and the 2007 National Champion.