Timothy Chooi

Internationally acclaimed violinist Timothy Chooi has mesmerized global audiences with his virtuosity and emotional depth. He's celebrated for his extensive repertoire, connecting with millions worldwide. Chooi's accolades include First Prize at the Joseph Joachim International Violin Competition and the Yves Paternot Prize at the Verbier Festival. Chooi's music resonates globally, with notable recordings and broadcasts.

Born in Canada and raised in the US to Chinese-Indonesian parents, his music journey began at the age of sixteen, with a debut performance with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra (Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal) that launched his career on the global stage. Inspired by his older brother, Nikki Chooi, Timothy has since established himself as one of the leading violinists of his generation.

In addition to his performance career, Chooi is deeply committed to the art of teaching. As the Professor of Violin at the University of Ottawa, he is recognized not only for his virtuosic playing but also for his dedication to nurturing the next generation of musicians. Chooi is celebrated for his innovative teaching methods, which combine traditional techniques with contemporary approaches to violin performance.

Nikki Chooi

Praised for his powerful and poetic performances, internationally-acclaimed violinist Nikki Chooi has established himself as an artist of rare versatility. He is a Laureate of the Queen Elizabeth and Tchaikovsky Competitions and was awarded first Prize Winner at the Montreal Symphony's ManuLife Competition, the Klein International Strings Competition, and the Michael Hill International Violin Competition. Nikki is currently Concertmaster of the Grammy-award winning Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra.

Highly in demand as a guest concertmaster, he has performed with the Boston Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Houston Symphony, Sydney Symphony, and Macao Orchestra. Previously Concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Nikki's solos can be heard through The Met: Live in HD broadcasts in productions of Verdi’s La Traviata, Janacek’s Jenufa, and the Grammy-nominated recording of Strauss’ Rosenkavalier released on the Decca Label.

Nikki began his studies at the Victoria Conservatory, Mount Royal Conservatory, Morningside Music Bridge, and at the National Arts Centre Young Artist Programme. He completed his formal studies at the Curtis Institute and the Juilliard School under the mentorship of Joseph Silverstein, Ida Kavafian, and Donald Weilerstein.
 

Acclaimed violinists Nikki and Timothy Chooi return to the MCO stage with Dawn & Dusk. Together, the MCO and the Chooi brothers take us on an evocative journey through locales and time periods, lighting up the voyage through music.

J’Ouvert Morning, composed by Winnipeg conductor and composer Larry Strachan, was commissioned by the MCO in 2023. Born and raised in Winnipeg, Strachan’s work interacts frequently with his diasporic identity, exploring the people and culture of Grenada. This “feel-good, effervescent” piece (Winnipeg Free Press) evokes the Grenadian festival of the same name. Beginning at 4am, the festival quickly gets underway: thousands of people fill the street, banging made-up songs on their steel pans. The sometimes-chaotic procession ends at daybreak, signalling the beginning of Carnival festivities. With this work, Strachan gives us a glimpse into a uniquely Grenadian celebration. 

As the Chooi brothers explore the familiar territory of Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, BWV 1043, you may hear an unexpected movement or two. What you’re hearing is the world premiere of David Braid’s Bohemian Fugue and Pausa, two variations following Bach. Using the traditional form of the Bach double concerto, Braid has inserted two variations on the preceding movements. In a way only Braid can, he creates a fresh new perspective on one of Bach’s most famous works. The Bohemian Fugue, played after the first movement, is built on a consistent movement between two meters: a conventional 6/8, and a 3+2+3/8. In contrast, Pausa is a sensitive and slow work. The solo violins soar gracefully into the upper bounds of their register before falling into a contented silence.

Finally, the MCO takes us to Italy. Giovanni Sollima’s music infuses Mediterranean folk traditions with minimalism, rock, and pop influences to distinctive effect. In Viaggio in Italia, Sollima explores the various histories and stories that make up Italian culture. Featuring modal harmonies and post-minimalist structures, Sollima shows us some of Italy’s most notable locales and historical figures. Here, you’ll find a portrait of the Holy Roman emperor Frederick the Second, an exploration of the city of Zobeide, one of the settings of Italo Calvino’s Le città invisibili, and an ode to the Campo Dei Miracoli, the site of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Program notes written by Lukas Sawatsky