About Emil Chudnovsky
Emil Israel Chudnovsky hearkens back to the grand romantic tradition of the golden age of violinists. His lush sound and inimitable ability to connect with audiences have garnered him accolades from listeners, presenters, and critics across six continents.
Born in Moscow to renowned violinist Nina Beilina and eminent opera conductor Maestro Israel Chudnovsky, Emil began concertizing at age eleven. After immigrating to the United States, he studied at The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, and holds degrees from Yale University and the Mannes College of Music.
What sets Emil apart as a teacher is not just his world-class performance credentials, but his proven track record of nurturing students who go on to attend top conservatories and win major competitions. With 20+ years of teaching experience, he brings the insights of an international soloist directly to your practice room.
Learn from a Master Performer
Study with Emil Chudnovsky and benefit from decades of international performance experience and proven teaching methods.
Why Study with Emil?
Proven Excellence
Winner of 9 international competitions including first prizes at the Curci Competition in Naples, the NFMC Young Artists Competition, and twice laureate of the prestigious "Premio Paganini."
Global Experience
Performed on every continent with major orchestras, from Carnegie Hall to Seoul Arts Center. This international perspective enriches every lesson with real-world professional insights.
Student Success
Students regularly gain admission to Juilliard, New England Conservatory, and Peabody. Multiple winners of major competitions and principal seats in top youth orchestras.
Professional Background
Emil maintains an active international performance schedule while bringing two decades of teaching experience to students at all levels.
Performance
Concerts across six continents
Featured on NPR's "Performance Today"
Solo recitals at Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall
Six commercial recordings
Teaching
Former faculty, Catholic University
Twenty years of private instruction
International competition adjudicator
Students admitted to major conservatories
Complete Teaching Biography
Emil Chudnovsky is an expert teacher with twenty years' experience teaching violinists of all levels, from beginners to advanced competition-level performers. A graduate of Yale University (Certificate of Performance) and the Mannes College of Music in New York (Bachelors of Music), Mr. Chudnovsky is a nine-time international competition winner and laureate. An experienced soloist, he has recorded six CDs and performed concerts and recitals in over 30 countries.
A former faculty member at Catholic University, and at the Kirov Academy of DC, Mr. Chudnovsky has also been invited to give master-classes at Pepperdine University in California, the Schwob School of Music in Georgia, and at South Dakota State University, as well as at many schools in Florida and Maryland. Abroad, he has conducted master-classes in South America, New Zealand, China and Japan, and taught at the CIVEBRA Festival in Brazil, Mexico's San Miguel de Allende Chamber Music Festival, the Summit Music Festival in New York, and the InterHarmony International Music Festival in Italy.
Mr. Chudnovsky continues to be sought out as a juror for local, regional, and international competitions. He has been a judge for the National Federation of Music Club's competition, repeatedly served on the jury of the Chengdu International Competition in China, and been a judge at Peabody's Marbury Competition, other top area school competitions, as well as for the state level of the MTNA violin competition and the ASTA Strings Festival.
Mr. Chudnovsky's students have won admission to the New England Conservatory, Juilliard, Peabody, Rice University, the Cleveland Institute of Music, Jacobs Music School at Indiana University, the Central Music School in Moscow, the Mannes College of Music in New York, and many others. They have also repeatedly won top prizes in the Washington Performing Arts Society's prestigious Feder Competition, and have been national finalists of the MTNA National Junior Strings Competition and at the Hilton Head Concerto Competition.
In area competitions, they have won and been finalists in the U.S. Army Orchestra's Young Artist Competition, the Potter Violin Company-Gretchen Hood Competition, the Landon Concerto Competition, the DC Youth Symphony Concerto Competition, the James C. Macdonald Arts Competition, the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra's Dorothy Farnham Feuer Memorial String Competition, the Lions of Virginia Bland Music Scholarship Competition, the Owings Mills Young Artist Competition, the Young Artists' Awards of the City of Gaithersburg, the ASTA Solo Strings Festival, and at the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic competition.
Mr. Chudnovsky's students have performed as soloists with orchestras in the greater DC area, including concerto appearances at the Kennedy Center. They have won auditions and principal seats in the area's top youth orchestras, including all of the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras, the DCYO, the CYSO, the AYP youth orchestras, as well as for Virginia and Maryland All-State and All-County orchestras. In recital, his students have performed in Russia, Bulgaria, Taiwan and locally at such prestigious venues as the Russian Embassy and the Ukrainian Embassy, as well as in special appearances before His Majesty, the King of Norway and before His Excellency, the Ambassador of Romania.
What Critics Are Saying
"Cheers for Chudnovsky…Saturday's IPO concert may be remembered as the night Emil Chudnovsky came to town…to say he was soloist would be to miss the point. Chudnovsky was the center of the music…The flamboyant cadenza by itself was worth the price of admission…a wonderful performance…a sublime, almost erotic sound."
— The Star Newspapers | Chicago, Illinois
"His performance was absolutely phenomenal…Chudnovsky made [the Wieniawski Concerto No. 2] look effortless…this was an edge-of-your-seat performance…a charismatic and fiery performer..."
— The Telegraph | Macon, GA
"A master artist…graceful certitude and flawless technique…[holding] the audience spellbound in a silence interrupted only by the occasional gasp…ecstatic playing…a pre-eminent musician disguised as a regular guy."
— The Star Newspapers | Chicago
"Brilliant sensitivity...extreme intensity...undeniable technical ability…a grand presence"
— Le Soir | Belgium
"A dazzling soloist…[a] startling, awesome virtuoso…Emil dominated the concert whenever he was onstage…mind-boggling ease, brio, brilliance and bravura throughout."
— Philippine Star
Student Achievements
Won Admission To
- The Juilliard School
- New England Conservatory
- Peabody Conservatory
- Rice University
- Cleveland Institute of Music
- Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University
- Mannes College of Music
- Central Music School of Moscow
Won Auditions
- Solo appearances at the Kennedy Center
- Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras (MCYO)
- DC Youth Orchestra (DCYO)
- Capital Youth Symphony Orchestra (CYSO)
- American Youth Philharmonic (AYP)
- All-State & All-County orchestras in VA & MD
Won Prizes At
- Washington Performing Arts Society’s Feder Competition
- MTNA National Junior Strings Competition (finalist)
- Hilton Head Concerto Competition (finalist)
- U.S. Army Orchestra Young Artist Competition
- Potter Violin Company–Gretchen Hood Competition
- Landon Concerto Competition
- DC Youth Symphony Concerto Competition
- James C. Macdonald Arts Competition
- Fairfax Symphony’s Dorothy Farnham Competition
From World Stages to Your Music Room
Emil's unique combination of world-class performance experience and proven teaching excellence means you're not just learning violin technique—you're gaining insights from someone who has performed the repertoire at the highest level and knows how to prepare students for success.
Performance Experience Informs Teaching
Having performed with major orchestras worldwide, Emil understands what it takes to succeed at the professional level and translates this knowledge into practical, achievable steps for students of all ages.
Proven Teaching Methods
With former faculty positions at Catholic University and the Kirov Academy, plus 20+ years of private teaching, Emil has developed methods that consistently produce results.
Ready to Start Your Violin Journey?
Contact Emil today to discuss your musical goals and schedule your first lesson.