Nikki Chooi - Violin

Every second year a highlight of the Waikanae Music Society concert season is the “winner’s tour” concert featuring the winner of the previous year’s Michael Hill International Violin Competition. On Sunday 22 June this much anticipated event will feature Canadian violinist Nikki Chooi, who has been described as “a model of taste and tonal refinement” (Boston Globe) and “vigorous and colourful” (New York Times).

As part of his prize, Nikki Chooi is undertaking an extensive Chamber Music New Zealand tour. He will also perform with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and record under the Atoll label, as well as appearing in Australia's Musica Viva series. His accompanist for this tour is well-known New Zealand pianist Stephen De Pledge.

Born in 1989 in British Columbia to parents of Chinese descent, Nikki Chooi began violin studies at the age of four and by fourteen was accepted into a special programme for gifted musicians. In 2012 he graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music and is currently pursuing graduate studies at the Juilliard School of Music.

He is also a winner of the 2013 Astral Artists International Audition, Laureate of the 2012 Queen Elisabeth Violin Competition, and first prize winner of the 2009 Irving M. Klein International String Competition in San Francisco. He has performed with numerous orchestras and chamber ensembles throughout North America and Europe, and as winner of the Canada Council Musical Instrument Bank Competition he currently uses the 1700 "Taft" Stradivari violin.

New Zealand pianist Stephen De Pledge is one of the most versatile musicians of his generation. He studied at the University of Auckland and at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London where he won the coveted Gold Medal. Stephen’s solo performances have taken him throughout the UK, including five solo recitals in the Wigmore Hall, and also to Hong Kong, Italy, France, Singapore, Japan, Australia and the USA. He is also busy as a concerto soloist, chamber musician, accompanist and teacher.

The Waikanae concert will be at 2.30pm in the Waikanae Memorial Hall and will feature music by Mozart, Prokofiev, Jack Body, Ysayë, de Falla and Ravel. Door sales will be available or tickets can be bought at Waikanae New World, Moby Dickens Books in Paraparaumu Beach or Lush Design Gallery in Raumati.
Enquiries are welcome on 04 905 6070

Programme:
Mozart: Sonata for Piano and Violin in E flat K302
Prokofiev: Violin Sonata No 1 in F minor Op 80
Ysayë: Sonata for Solo Violin Op 27 № 2
Jack Body: Caravan for solo violin
De Falla: Suite Espagnole
Ravel: Tzigane