Timothy Chooi Loaned 1714 'Dolphin' Strad Violin Played by Heifetz

October 8, 2025, 3:48 PM · Canadian violinist Timothy Chooi has been awarded the use of the 1714 "Dolphin" Stradivari violin, loaned to him earlier this month by the Tokyo-based Nippon Music Foundation.

Violinist Timothy Chooi with the 1714 "Dolphin" Stradivari violin. Photo by Curtis Perry.

"It is with great honor and gratitude that I receive the loan of the Stradivarius 1714 ‘Dolphin,’ one of the most celebrated violins in the world," Chooi said. "I have seen many historical videos of Jascha Heifetz performing on this very violin, and his artistry has always been a source of inspiration to me. It is truly an honor to follow in his footsteps and those of so many other incredible musicians. I look forward to the privilege of sharing the voice of this instrument with audiences worldwide and contributing to its living legacy."

Chooi received the instrument earlier this month, following his recent performances in Japan and South Korea. Chooi describes the instrument here:

The "Dolphin" Strad is from Antonio Stradivari’s Golden Period, between from 1700 to 1725, when the great Italian violin maker was said to have refined his pattern and made some of his finest work. Besides being played by the great 20th century violinist Jascha Heifetz, it was also previously played more recently by Akiko Suwanai and Ray Chen.

Chooi, who won First Prize at the 2018 Joseph Joachim International Violin Competition, Second Prize at the 2019 Queen Elisabeth International Competition, and the 2018 Yves Paternot Prize from the Verbier Festival in Switzerland, was recognized in September with a Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in Research Award from the University of Ottawa, where he is an Associate Professor of Violin.

The "Dolphin" Strad is one of three fine instruments that Chooi currently has on loan. The others include the 1741 "Titan" Guarneri del Gesù on loan from CANIMEX Inc. in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada; and a 1761 Landolfi violin, endowed to him through his professorship at the University of Ottawa. Previously, Chooi performed on the the 1709 "Engleman" Stradivari violin, on loan from the Nippon Music Foundation; the 1717 "Windsor Weinstein" Stradivari from the Canada Council for the Arts; and a 1729 Guarneri del Gesù from the Canada Council for the Arts.

The Nippon Music Foundation was established in March 1974, and its Instrument Loan Project was started in 1994. The Foundation currently owns 21 string instruments, including 19 Stradivari instruments (15 violins, one viola, and three cellos); and two Guarneri del Gesù violins.

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