The American musican Ida Kavafian is internationally recognized as both a violist and violinist. An artist-member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and a former member of the Beaux Arts Trio, she has built a distinguished career as a performer, educator, and artistic director.

For 34 years, she has served as Artistic Director of Music from Angel Fire in New Mexico, where around 200 Curtis students have taken part in the Young Artist Program. She also founded the Bravo! Colorado festival and was its Artistic Director for ten years. Her work in chamber music includes co-founding the ensembles Opus One, Tashi, and Trio Valtorna. She regularly performs as a soloist and in recitals with her sister, violinist Ani Kavafian.

Born in Istanbul to Armenian parents, she graduated from the Juilliard School, where she studied with Oscar Shumsky. Her professional debut came through Young Concert Artists alongside pianist Peter Serkin, and she was also awarded the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant.

Since 1998, Kavafian has been a faculty member at the Curtis Institute of Music, where she received the 2013 Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching. She also teaches at the Juilliard School and the Bard College Conservatory of Music.