Ava Pakiam, violin

Hometown: San Francisco, California

Meet Ava

Ava performs on Show 481.

Ava Pakiam (violin), 15, is a sought-after soloist and recitalist currently residing in the Bay Area. She presently studies with renowned violin professors Simon James and Soovin Kim and was recently awarded the 2025 Salon De Virtuosi Career Grant in New York City. Her performance at their Gala this October will be live-streamed by the Violin Channel and recorded for WQXR’s Young Artists Showcase.

Ava made her solo debut at the age of eight performing the Mozart Concerto No. 2 with the Fremont Symphony in California. Later that summer, she performed Vivaldi’s Winter Concerto with the Sempre Musik Orchestra and New York Sinfonietta in Boston and New York City, making her solo debut at Carnegie Hall. At 11, she was named Seattle Symphony’s Young Artist for the 2021-2022 season, performing Saint-Saëns Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso at a season concert. At 12, at the Sounding Point Academy at Colburn School, Ava was chosen to perform in a recital live-streamed by The Violin Channel, performing “Le Vent” by Vecsey.

Ava has had the privilege of performing in master classes for many leading pedagogues and performing artists including Nathan Cole, Noah Geller, Ariel Horowitz, James Ehnes, Vadim Gluzman, Melissa White, Simone Porter, Sirena Huang, and Hilary Hahn. Solo appearances with orchestras in the past have also included a performance alongside Grammy Award-winning composer Mason Bates.

Last season’s highlights included solo appearances of the Brahms, Tchaikovsky, and Bruch Concerti with orchestras in the USA on both coasts as well as concert tours in Mexico and Honduras. In addition to this, Ava had her New York City recital debut in the prestigious Salon de Virtuosi series. This coming season includes solo performances of the Prokofiev Concerto No. 2, Bruch Concerto, and Beethoven Concerto as well as numerous recital appearances with collaborator and pianist Cole Anderson.

A Strumenti artist since 2022, Ava is incredibly fortunate to be playing an 1874 J.B. Vuillaume funded though Strumenti.Ava is grateful to be under the guidance of Artistic Advisor and former head of IMG, Edna Landau. Ms. Landau is also currently serving as the first point of contact for Ava’s future engagements.

In addition to music, Ava loves art, baking, jewelry making, and creative writing.