Ava Pakiam is a 16 year old sought after soloist and recitalist currently residing in the Bay Area. Ava presently studies with renowned violin professor, Simon James.
In 2025, Ava was awarded the Salon De Virtuosi Career Grant in New York City. Her performance at their Gala this past October was live streamed by the Violin Channel and recorded for WQXR’s Young Artists Showcase.
Ava made her solo debut at eight years old in California performing the Mozart Concerto No. 2 with the Fremont Symphony. Later that summer, she performed Vivaldi’s Winter Concerto with the Sempre Musik Orchestra and New York Sinfonietta in Boston and New York City, making her solo debut at Carnegie Hall at age eight. At age eleven, Ava was named Seattle Symphony's Young Artist for the 2021-2022 season, performing Saint Saens Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso on a season concert. At the Sounding Point Academy at Colburn School in L.A., Ava was chosen at age twelve to perform in recital live streamed by The Violin Channel, performing “Le Vent” by Vecsey.
The last few seasons of concerts for Ava have included multiple solo performances with orchestra of the major violin concerti including Bruch, Mendelssohn, Barber, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, and Prokofiev Concerto No. 2. Solo appearances have also included performances alongside Grammy Award winning composer, Mason Bates. In addition to this, Ava has made numerous recital appearances on both coasts with collaborator and pianist Cole Anderson.
Ava has had the privilege of performing in master classes for many leading pedagogues and performing artists including Nathan Cole, Noah Geller, Ariel Horowitz, James Ehnes, Vadim Gluzman, Melissa White, Simone Porter, Sirena Huang and Hilary Hahn.
A Strumenti artist since 2022, Ava is incredibly fortunate to be playing an 1874 J.B. Vuillaume funded though Strumenti.
Ava is grateful to be under the guidance of Artistic Advisor and former head of IMG Artists, Edna Landau. Ms. Landau is also currently serving as the first point of contact for Ava's future engagements.
In addition to music, Ava loves art, baking, jewelry making, and creative writing.
