Kim Kashkashian Concerts

Experience Kim Kashkashian

Kim Kashkashian is a highly acclaimed American violist, renowned for her deeply expressive and technically masterful playing. Born in Detroit, Michigan, she studied with Walter Trampler and began garnering international attention after winning the Primrose Competition in 1980. Kashkashian’s career has spanned decades, marked by collaborations with leading orchestras worldwide including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Berlin Philharmonic.

She is particularly celebrated for championing contemporary repertoire, commissioning and premiering works by composers such as Alfred Schnittke, Krzysztof Penderecki, and Kaija Saariaho. Her discography includes numerous award-winning recordings – notably a Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music Performance in 2013 for her recording of Kurtág’s *Gestures and Phrases*.

Kashkashian's style is characterized by a rich tonal palette, intensely focused phrasing, and a profound emotional connection to the music. She currently holds a professorship at the Eastman School of Music, nurturing the next generation of violists while continuing an active performance schedule globally. Her influence extends beyond performance into pedagogy and advocacy for the viola as a solo instrument.