Yaeri Choi
Violinist
Yaeri Choi was born into a distinguished musical family, where her artistic foundation was laid by her mother, a pianist and educator, alongside her two siblings, a cellist and violist. A violin prodigy, she began her formal studies at the age of eight and achieved the remarkable milestone of becoming the youngest violinist ever accepted into the Oberlin Conservatory of Music at just fifteen.
Originally from Seoul, South Korea, she has established a vibrant international career, performing extensively throughout the United States and Asia. Her artistry has graced some of the world’s most prestigious stages, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Kodak Eastman Theater, the Shanghai Oriental Art Center, Seoul Arts Center, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Profile
As a founding member of the Arancia Ensemble, she lead numerous concert series sponsored by the City of Seoul. Under her leadership, the ensemble won the Manhattan International Music Competition and performed at Carnegie Hall in 2022 as part of the winner’s concert series. The Arancia was also honored with a Special Prize at the Astor Piazzolla International Music Competition in the chamber music division.
Driven by a lifelong passion for ensemble performance, she has performed with prominent orchestras such as the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the Korean Symphony Orchestra, and the Korea National Opera.
Her career as a violinist includes recording for major Hollywood soundtracks, including Avatar 3, Disclosure Day, and Zero Day. This professional experience in the film industry, combined with her classical background, allows her to bring a unique perspective to both performance and teaching.
She holds a Bachelor of Music from the Manhattan School of Music and a Master of Music from the Eastman School of Music. Her artistic development was guided by legendary mentors including Patinka Kopec and Charles Castleman. Furthermore, she earned a Graduate Certificate from the University of Southern California, studying under Glenn Dicterow, the renowned former concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic.
Currently, she serves as the Assistant Concertmaster of the New West Symphony. Her orchestral career also includes tenures with the Santa Barbara Symphony (joined in 2019) and the Long Beach Symphony (joined in 2022).
Solo Video
