News & Reviews

21 February 2022

Interview: From Vancouver Island to the world's greatest concert halls, Nikki Chooi embraces the violin's range

Making his Vancouver Symphony Orchestra debut, the globally in-demand musician plays everything from opera to bluegrass

8 January 2022

Review: Albany Symphony shines in return to Proctors; assistant conductor from Philadelphia Orchestra impresses

Aided by the sensational guest concertmaster, Nikki Chooi,  the orchestra thrilled the large crowd. Chooi, who is the voice of Scheherazade, played with a forceful but exquisite sensuousness in his many solos.

12 December 2021

News: New Classical Tracks: Most coveted releases of 2021

Featuring violinists Nikki Chooi and Tessa Lark, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra's newest album — The Four Seasons / The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires made it to the Top 10 Most Coveted Releases of 2021

3 November 2021

Review: Buffalo Philharmonic delights with Brahms selections

This is a masterpiece of the violin repertory in any critic’s opinion. Chooi played with energy, sensitivity, great musicianship and outstanding technical agility. 

20 October 2021

INTERVIEW: BPO concertmaster, Nikki Chooi, prepares for a special challenge this week

The Brahms Concerto is a massive work. I describe it as being equivalent to a symphony that happens to feature the solo violin. The uniqueness of this piece is that though it is large in scale, there are moments in which it feels like chamber music, when the texture clears out and the violin converses with individual instruments in the orchestra.

7 May 2021

Review: JoAnn Falletta, BPO announce newest audio recording, 'The Four Seasons,' featuring violinist Nikki Chooi & Tessa Lark

In Nikki's transcendent playing, we all found solace and hope, and wanted to document this performance as a very special moment in our season.

8 March 2020

Review: Falletta and the Buffalo Phil take a journey into the orientalist world of Florent Schmitt

Chooi’s interpretation took the generally dark colors of the music and gave them a special sheen.

25 October 2017

Review: In Astral Artists recital, portrait of the Brothers Chooi

The brothers were stylish and passionate....[Nikki] Chooi is a violinist who flourishes at the tender end of the emotion scale

21 October 2017

News: Wonderful to perform in the Chestnut Hill Community. Review by Chestnut Hill Local

Chooi’s fleet passagework and purity of tuning at the highest registers were potently employed for heightened efficacy

20 February 2017

News: Chooi Brothers Performance at Sunshine Coast, British Columbia

All three are under the age of 30 but they expressed the emotion and technique of mature musicians trapped in young person’s bodies.

16 March 2015

Review: Calgary Philharmonic Chorus shares Heavenly Voices

Chooi has developed into a fine soloist, his performance of the fantasy as richly expressive and technically assured....the melodic writing eloquently performed, especially in the fine slow movement.

2 March 2015

Review: Triple treat earns standing ovations

Chooi is an arresting performer who fearlessly tackled the demands at hand. He displayed his verve during the opening Allegro ma non troppo with fierce conviction.