Biography

Praised for his powerful and poetic performances, internationally acclaimed violinist Nikki Chooi has established himself as one of the most charismatic, versatile, and engaging performers of his generation. He has earned worldwide recognition as a Laureate of the Queen Elizabeth and Tchaikovsky Competitions, and as First Prize winner of the Michael Hill International Violin Competition, the Klein International String Competition, and the Montreal Symphony’s ManuLife Competition.

Concertmaster of the Grammy Award–winning Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Santa Fe Opera Orchestra, Nikki is recognized for his leadership on the world’s most prominent stages. In demand internationally, he has appeared as guest concertmaster with the Boston Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Houston Symphony, Sydney Symphony, and Macao Orchestra. Nikki was previously Concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra where his playing was featured in The Met: Live in HD broadcasts and on the Grammy-nominated Decca recording of Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier.

Nikki has brought his artistry to major stages around the world, most recently in critically acclaimed solo appearances at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium and at Lincoln Center in New York. As a soloist, he has performed widely across North America, Europe, and Asia, with engagements ranging from the National Orchestra of Belgium and Chamber Orchestra of Wallonie to the Auckland Philharmonia, Puerto Rico Symphony, National Taiwan Symphony Festival Orchestra, and Hong Kong Philharmonic. Beyond the concert hall, he is a frequent guest at international festivals including Marlboro, Ravinia, Rockport, and La Jolla SummerFest in the United States; Dresden, Moritzburg, and Kammermusik Utrecht in Europe; Musica Viva in Australia, and Chamber Music New Zealand.

Deeply passionate about collaboration, Nikki frequently performs with his brother, violinist Timothy Chooi — a partnership that reflects both family and artistic connection. He has also shared the stage with distinguished musicians including Yo-Yo Ma, JoAnn Falletta, Clayton Stephenson, Michelle Cann, and the innovative ensemble Time for Three. Committed to nurturing the next generation of musicians, Nikki has given classes at world-renowned institutions including the Curtis Institute of Music, New England Conservatory’s Morningside Program, San Francisco Conservatory, as well as leading teaching residencies across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

Born and raised in Victoria, Canada, Nikki began his musical journey at the Victoria Conservatory, Mount Royal Conservatory, Morningside Music Bridge, and the National Arts Centre Young Artist Programme before completing formal studies at the Curtis Institute of Music and the Juilliard School under the guidance of Joseph Silverstein, Ida Kavafian, and Donald Weilerstein. Nikki’s artistry has been captured on the Naxos, Beau Fleuve, and Atoll labels.

Nikki performs on a 1713 Stradivarius graciously provided by the company CANIMEX INC. from Drummondville, Quebec, Canada, a 1749 G.B Guadagnini on extended loan through the Stradivari Society of Chicago, and a 2016 Joseph Curtin. Nikki proudly endorses Thomastik-Infeld strings.