Kim Kashkashian

Kim Kashkashian (born August 31, 1952) is an American violist. She has spent her career in the U.S. and Europe and collaborated with many major contemporary composers. In 2013 she won a Grammy Award for Best Classical Instrumental Solo. She is recognized as one of the world's top violists.

Early life and education Kashkashian was born to Armenian-American parents Her father had a baritone voice and sang Armenian folk songs, which influenced her.

Kashkashian is one of the founders and (as of 2016) the Artistic Director

Recognition Kashkashian is widely recognized as one of the world's top violists. BBC Music Magazine wrote in 1997 that she is one of the "most sought-after violists for chamber music in America." NPR's All Things Considered noted in 2007 that she is "one of only a few violists with an international solo career."

Honors and accolades Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition 2nd prize, 1980 Elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 2016 Year Award Recording Result 1989 Best Chamber Music Performance Hindemith: Viola Sonatas (Album) 1999 Best Chamber Music Performance Brahms: Sonatas For Viola And Piano Nos. 1 And 2 (Album) 2005 Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with orchestra) Mansurian: "...And Then I Was In Time Again" 2013 Best Classical Instrumental Solo Kurtág & Ligeti: Music For Viola

Discography A partial list of her recordings includes: Asturiana. Transcribed songs of Manuel de Falla, Alberto Ginastera, Xavier Montsalvatge, Carlos Guastavino, and Carlos López Buchardo. Kim Kashkashian, viola, Robert Levin, piano. (CD ECM 1975) Johann Sebastian Bach: 3 Sonatas for Viola da gamba and Cembalo. Kim Kashkashian, viola, Keith Jarrett, cembalo. (CD ECM 1501) Béla Bartók: Viola Concerto. Kim Kashkashian, viola, Péter Eötvös, conductor. Netherlands Radio Chamber Orchestra. (CD ECM 1711) Luciano Berio: Voci, Naturale. Kim Kashkashian, viola, Robyn Schulkowsky, percussion, Luciano Berio, conductor. (CD ECM 1735) Harold Blumenfeld: Voyages after Hart Crane (1977). Patrick Mason, baritone, Kim Kashkashian, viola, David Starobin, guitar, Gordon Gottlieb, Louis Oddo, percussion, Arthur Weisberg, conductor. (LP CRI SD 387) Linda Bouchard: Pourtinade. Kim Kashkashian, viola, Robyn Schulkowsky, percussion. (CD ECM 1425) Johannes Brahms: Sonatas for Viola and Piano, Op. 120. Kim Kashkashian, viola, Robert Levin, piano. (CD ECM 1630) Benjamin Britten: Lachrymae, Op. 48. Kim Kashkashian, viola Robert Levin, piano. (CD ECM 1316) Benjamin Britten: Lachrymae, Op. 48a. Kim Kashkashian, viola, Dennis Russell Davies, conductor, Stuttgarter Kammerorchester. (CD ECM 1506) Elliott Carter: Elegy for Viola and Piano. Kim Kashkashian, viola Robert Levin, piano. (CD ECM 1316) Paul Chihara: Redwood. Kim Kashkashian, viola. Robyn Schulkowsky, percussion. (CD ECM 1425) Péter Eötvös: Replica for Viola and Orchestra. Kim Kashkashian, viola, Péter Eötvös, conductor, Netherlands Radio Chamber Orchestra. (CD ECM 1711) Gabriel Fauré: Piano Quartet No. 1 in c minor, Op. 15. Beaux Arts Trio, Kim Kashkashian, viola. (CD Philips 422 350–2) Alexander Glazunov: Elegie for Viola and Piano, Op. 44. Kim Kashkashian, viola Robert Levin, piano. (CD ECM 1316) Paul Hindemith: Trauermusik. Kim Kashkashian, viola, Dennis Russell Davies, conductor, Stuttgarter Kammerorchester. (CD ECM 1506) Paul Hindemith: Viola Sonatas Opp. 31 No. 4, 25 No. 1, 1937, 11 No. 4, 11 No. 5, 25 No. 4, 1939. Kim Kashkashian, viola, Robert Levin, piano. (CD ECM 1330) Sándor Jemnitz: Trio for violin, viola and guitar, Op. 33. Benjamin Hudson, violin, Kim Kashkashian, viola, David Starobin, guitar. (CD Bridge 9004 or 9292) Giya Kancheli: Abii ne viderem. Kim Kashkashian, viola, Vasiko Tevdorashvili, voice, Natalia Pschenitschnikova, alto flute. Dennis Russell Davies, conductor, Stuttgarter Kammerorchester. (CD ECM 1510) Giya Kancheli: Vom Winde beweint (Mourned by the Wind). Kim Kashkashian, viola, Dennis Russell Davies, conductor, Orchester der Beethovenhalle Bonn. (CD ECM 1471) Eleni Karaindrou: Ulysses' Gaze, film score. Kim Kashkashian, viola. (CD ECM 1570) Zoltán Kodály: Adagio for Viola and Piano. Kim Kashkashian, viola, Robert Levin, piano. (CD ECM 1316) György Kurtág: Neun Stücke, Jelek, Op. 5, Hommage à R. Sch., Op. 15d. Kim Kashkashian, viola, Robert Levin, piano, Eduard Brunner, clarinet. (CD ECM 1508) György Kurtág: Movement for viola and orchestra. Kim Kashkashian, viola, Péter Eötvös, conductor, Netherlands Radio Chamber Orchestra. (CD ECM 1711) Franz Liszt: Romance oubliée. Kim Kashkashian, viola Robert Levin, piano. (CD ECM 1316) Tigran Mansurian: "...and then I was in time again", Lachrymae, Confessing with Faith. Kim Kashkashian, viola, Jan Garbarek, soprano saxophone, the Hilliard Ensemble, Christoph Poppen, conductor, Münchener Kammerorchester. (CD ECM 1850) Tigran Mansurian: Hayren, Music of Komitas and Mansurian, Duet for viola and percussion. Kim Kashkashian, viola, Robyn Schulkowsky, percussion, Tigran Mansurian, piano, voice. (CD ECM 1754) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Adagio and Fugue in c minor, K546. Gidon Kremer, Daniel Phillips, violins, Kim Kashkashian, viola, Yo-Yo Ma, cello. (CD Sony MK42134) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Duos for Violin and Viola, K423, K424, Trio for Violin, Viola and Piano K498 “Kegelstatt”. Gidon Kremer, violin, Kim Kashkashian, viola, Valery Afanassiev, piano. (CD DG 415 483–2) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola, and Orchestra, K364. Gidon Kremer, violin, Kim Kashkashian, viola, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, conductor, Vienna Philharmonic. (CD DG 413 461–2) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Divertimento in Eb, K563. Gidon Kremer, violin, Kim Kashkashian, viola, Yo-Yo Ma, cello. (CD Sony SK39561) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Quintet in c minor, K406. Guarneri Quartet, Kim Kashkashian, viola. (CD RCA 7771-2-RC) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Quintet in E♭ major, K614. Guarneri Quartet, Kim Kashkashian, viola. (CD RCA 7772-2-RC) Betty Olivero: Neharo't Neharo't. Kim Kashkashian, viola, Alexander Liebreich, conductor, Münchener Kammerorchester. (CD ECM) Krzysztof Penderecki: Viola Concerto. Kim Kashkashian, viola, Dennis Russell Davies, conductor, Stuttgarter Kammerorchester. (CD ECM 1506) Alfred Schnittke: Viola Concerto. Kim Kashkashian, viola, Dennis Russell Davies, conductor, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Saarbrücken. (CD ECM 1471) Franz Schubert: Quartet No. 15 in G major, Op. 161 D887. Gidon Kremer, Daniel Phillips, violins, Kim Kashkashian, viola, Yo-Yo Ma, cello. (CD Sony MK42134) Erwin Schulhoff: Sextet. Gidon Kremer, Philippe Hirschhorn, violins, Nobuko Imai, Kim Kashkashian, violas, David Geringas, Julius Berger, cellos. (LP ECM 1347/48) Robert Schumann: Märchenbilder, Op. 113, Märchenerzählungen, Op. 132. Kim Kashkashian, viola, Robert Levin, piano, Eduard Brunner, clarinet. (CD ECM 1508) Dmitri Shostakovich: Sonata for Viola and Piano, Op. 147. Kim Kashkashian, viola, Robert Levin, piano. (CD ECM 1425) Dmitri Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 14, Op. 142. Gidon Kremer, Yuzuko Horigome, violins, Kim Kashkashian, viola, David Geringas, cello. Edition Lockenhaus Vol. 4/5. (LP ECM 1347/48) Dmitri Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 15, Op. 144. Gidon Kremer, Daniel Phillips, violins, Kim Kashkashian, viola, Yo-Yo Ma, cello. (CD Sony MK44924) Ralph Vaughan Williams: Romance for Viola and Piano. Kim Kashkashian, viola, Robert Levin, piano. (CD ECM 1316) Henri Vieuxtemps: Elegie for Viola and Piano, Op. 30. Kim Kashkashian, viola, Robert Levin, piano. (CD ECM 1316) Morton Feldman, Erik Satie, John Cage: Rothko Chapel. Kim Kashkashian, Sarah Rothenberg, Steven Schick, Houston Chamber Choir, Robert Simpson. (CD ECM 2378)