PROFILE ▼
Internationally acclaimed violinist Timothy Chooi (pronounced “Chewy”) continues to mesmerize global audiences with his electrifying performances and profound musical interpretations. Renowned for his passionate renditions and extensive repertoire, Chooi has cultivated a devoted following, with over 200,000 online fans and more than 50 million views on his performances across digital platforms.
Chooi first burst onto the international scene by securing First Prize at the Joseph Joachim International Violin Competition in Hannover, Germany, and later earned Second Prize at the prestigious Queen Elisabeth International Competition. His accolades include the highly coveted Yves Paternot Prize from the Verbier Festival in Switzerland. These achievements have led to performances with top-tier orchestras including the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Belgian National Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Wiener Concert-Verein, and the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. His appearances at iconic venues such as Carnegie Hall, Musikverein Wien, Berlin Philharmonie, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, and London’s Royal Albert Hall have garnered him critical acclaim.
The 2025–26 season marks an exciting chapter in Chooi’s artistic journey. He will make his Paris debut with the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, and return to major European halls including the Musikverein in Vienna, Philharmonie in Munich, and Concertgebouw Amsterdam. He also continues his North American engagements with return appearances at the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and a collaboration with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London. Future engagements also include his anticipated debut with the NHK Symphony Orchestra in Japan.
Chooi’s music is broadcast globally on leading platforms. In 2023, he recorded with Anne-Sophie Mutter and Mutter’s Virtuosi for Deutsche Grammophon. His performance with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra was featured on Medici TV, and his work has been aired on NPO Radio Klassiek Amsterdam, WQXR New York, RTBF Belgium, Swiss Public Radio, CBC Radio Canada, Deutschlandfunk Kultur, and Danish Public Radio.
Born in Canada, Chooi’s multicultural heritage includes Chinese, Indonesian, and Malaysian roots. His career began at age sixteen with a debut alongside the Montreal Symphony Orchestra (Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal), inspired by his older brother, violinist Nikki Chooi. Since then, he has established himself as one of the leading violinists of his generation.
In addition to his international performing career, Chooi serves as Head of Strings and Associate Professor of Violin at the University of Ottawa in Canada, where he is committed to developing the future of violin playing and artistry in his home country. Celebrated for his innovative pedagogy, Chooi combines traditional technique with contemporary insights, offering his students a dynamic and holistic musical education. Under his mentorship, many have gone on to win prestigious competitions and join top orchestras around the world.
He performs on a distinguished collection of violins: the 1741 “Titan” Guarneri del Gesù (on loan from Canimex, Québec), the 1709 “Engleman” Stradivarius (on loan from the Nippon Music Foundation, Japan), and the 1761 Landolfi violin, which he plays in his role at the University of Ottawa.
https://www.timothychooi.com/
Born in Canada, Timothy Chooi has studied with Ida Kavafian and Pamela Frank at the Curtis Institute of Music, Catherine Cho at the Julliard School’s Artist Diploma Program and Christian Tetzlaff at the Kronberg Academy.
He gained international recognition by winning the first prize at the 2018 Joseph Joachim International Violin Competition in Germany and the second prize at the 2019 Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition of Belgium. He is also the first violinist and Canadian to win the “Prix Yves Paternot Prize” at the Verbier Festival in Switzerland.
Since his debut performance with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra at 16, he has performed with renowned orchestras such as the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Belgian National Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and Wiener Concert-Verein, among others. He has performed at prestigious venues including the Carnegie Hall, Musikverein Wien, Berlin Philharmonie, Royal Albert Hall. He has collaborated with esteemed artists including Anne-Sophie Mutter, Pinchas Zuckerman, Jukka Pekka Saraste, and Lang Lang.
Upcoming engagements include collaborations with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, a return to the Toronto Symphony, and debuts with the European Union Youth Orchestra, Brucknerhaus Orchester Linz, and the Wimbledon Music Festival in London.
Timothy serves as a Professor of Violin at the University of Ottawa.
https://www.timothychooi.com/
https://www.hirasaoffice06.com/artists/view/505