Kim Kashkashian

Kim Kashkashian, born in Detroit, is a Grammy Award-winning violist renowned for her exceptional artistry and advocacy for contemporary music. With a career spanning the U.S. and Europe, she has collaborated with some of the most influential composers of our time, including György Kurtág, Krzysztof Penderecki, and Arvo Pärt, significantly expanding the viola's repertoire. Kashkashian's Grammy win for her ECM recording of Ligeti and Kurtág works marked a historic moment as the first Grammy ever awarded to a violist. Beyond her performing career, she is a dedicated educator and the founder of Music for Food, a musician-led initiative addressing hunger relief. Her deep commitment to her instrument and her humanitarian efforts make her a true icon in the classical music world.