Our Experience with the Chooi Brothers: A Day to Remember

May 27, 2025, 2:26 PM · We are Miranda and Isabela, both juniors in high school who have studied with Elizabeth Faidley for over a decade. Each year in her studio is marked by extraordinary experiences — masterclasses with world-renowned artists like Midori and Ray Chen, or wild studio extravaganzas where everyone performs with an orchestra. But this year was truly unforgettable. We had the rare opportunity to learn from and perform with the brilliant violinist brothers, Timmy and Nikki Chooi.

Nikki Chooi is currently the concertmaster of both the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra and the Grammy Award-winning Buffalo Philharmonic. He has also served as guest concertmaster with the Pittsburgh Symphony, Houston Symphony, Boston Symphony, Sydney Symphony, and many others. A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and The Juilliard School, he studied under the legendary Joseph Silverstein.

Timmy Chooi, a soloist and professor at the University of Ottawa, has performed with the Belgian National Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, among others. Inspired by his older brother, Timmy picked up the violin after watching Nikki play—and the rest is history. Although they grew up playing together, their individual careers now take them around the world, making their time together especially rare and meaningful.

When the Chooi brothers walked to the front of the hall, everyone in the room stood up and clapped enthusiastically. We were absolutely buzzing with excitement. They performed "Five Pieces for Two Violins" by Shostakovich and "Navarra" by Sarasate.

The Chooi brothers performing.

Hearing the Shostakovich Prelude was especially meaningful — it’s considered the anthem of our studio. In 2019, we performed it as part of a European tour through three countries, and since then, it’s become a tradition to include the Prelude whenever the studio travels. Many of the students in the audience that day had performed it themselves, and hearing it played so masterfully, from the audience rather than onstage, gave it new meaning.

The masterclass focused on Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor, BWV 1043 (the "Bach Double," as many call it!), a pillar of the violin repertoire. Elizabeth designed the experience to be collaborative across all levels: the youngest students played the Vivace (first movement), middle-school students tackled the Largo ma non tanto (second), and advanced students, including us, performed the fast and challenging Allegro (third movement).

Throughout all three movements, older students mentored the younger ones, offering encouragement, tuning help, bowing suggestions, and calming nerves backstage. This sense of support and mentorship is deeply embedded in our studio culture. Ms. Faidley encourages all of us to grow not only as musicians, but as leaders.

Performing alongside the Chooi brothers was electrifying. Their deep connection as siblings and musicians created a kind of musical conversation - phrases passed back and forth with such intuitive phrasing and expression.

Elizabeth Faidley students performing with Chooi brothers

Timmy and Nikki Chooi perform with students of Elizabeth Faidley.

As we played with them and received their feedback, we adjusted bow strokes, reworked phrasing, and began thinking more intentionally about how to shape our sound. Their presence pushed us to a new level, unlocking more expressive potential with every correction and phrase.

One of the most joyful moments of the day was a game Elizabeth created called Growing Up Chooi, modeled after The Newlywed Game. It was hilarious, heartwarming, and brought the whole room together. Through this game, the brothers shared stories about their childhood, their sibling rivalry, or lack thereof, and their favorite musical memories. Their honesty, humor, and warmth made them feel approachable — not just famous soloists, but fellow musicians who understood the journey we are all on. We saw ourselves in their stories and left with a sense that perhaps our own goals weren’t so far out of reach.

Game: "Growing up Chooi."

One moment that especially resonated was when Timmy reflected on the violin:

"The violin is a magical instrument. A mere wooden box has become an extension of me and has brought me to travel the world and share my creation."

His words struck a chord with many of us, especially those preparing for conservatory auditions or bigger dreams. His story reminded us that music shapes who we are, not just what we do.

Over the years, Ms. Faidley has given us so many opportunities to learn from inspiring artists, including Sarah Chang, Augustin Hadelich, Midori, TwoSet, Ray Chen, and more. Each experience leaves us with new tools, renewed confidence, and lasting inspiration. These musicians have shown us that hard work and dedication really do lead to extraordinary things, not just in music, but in life. Their stories stay with us, helping shape how we grow both as artists and as people.

Our time with the Chooi brothers will remain one of the most special memories in our journey. We are so thankful for the opportunity to learn, to laugh, and to be part of something so meaningful.

For their encore, they performed their own edition of Czardas for two violins, and it was insane. The whole room almost caught on fire!

The Chooi brothers with the violin studio of Elizabeth Faidley.

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