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Viola

15 year old Toronto-based violist Emad Zolfaghari comes from a musical family. Upon moving from Michigan in 2018, Emad joined the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra where he often performs as principal player, as well as the Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists as the only student violist. He has performed in various concerto competitions, and won first prize in the 2020 Guelph Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, the 2019 Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra Competition, OMFA’s 2019 and 2020 Provincial Finals Competition, and second prize in the 2020 Oakville Chamber Orchestra Competition. He is also a finalist of the 2018 Royal Oak Concerto Competition, as well as the 2019 Geringas Memorial Scholarship competition. As a result of his accomplishments, Emad will appear as a soloist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Guelph Symphony Orchestra and Oakville Chamber Orchestra in the 2020/21 season. Emad currently studies with Theresa Rudolph, Assistant Principal Violist of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed in masterclasses for distinguished artists such as Hsin-Yun Huang, Roberto Diaz, Kim Kashkashian, Misha Amory, Steve Tenenbom, Teng Li, Atar Arad, Wang Shaowu and Eric Nowlin. In summer of 2019, Emad participated in the 23rd Morningside Music Bridge summer program on full scholarship to study with Teng Li, principal violist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In summer of 2020, Emad participated in the 10th Center Stage Strings festival and the 24th Morningside Music Bridge summer program, both on full scholarship. In his free time, Emad enjoys reading and spending time outside with his three siblings. He is also fluent in French.