When you study violin at CIM, you’ll be prepared to excel as a musician. It starts with your weekly private lessons with our world-class faculty. You’ll get extra exposure to great performers with master classes conducted by international guest artists.

Then you’ll take the stage to perform in solo recitals, chamber ensembles, orchestra and new music ensembles. Prepare for professional auditions through our specialized violin repertoire classes. Each violin studio offers a competitive and supportive environment -- with a high level of musicality as well as friendships that last well into your professional career. Violin graduate students can choose to pursue a Masters of Music in Performance and Suzuki Pedagogy, learn more about the program. 

Alumni Success

Meet Frank Huang

Frank Huang

Frank Huang was named concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic in 2016. Previously he served as the concertmaster of the Houston Symphony. Huang received his bachelor of music degree from CIM in 2002, studying with Donald Weilerstein. 

Notable Alumni

  • Diana Cohen (BM, 2001), student of Sheryl Staples-Centanni and Donald Weilerstein, concertmaster of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra.
  • Daniel Flanagan (BM, 2001), student of Linda Cerone, acting concertmaster of the Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra and Sacramento Opera, and lecturer of violin at the University of California, Davis.
  • Jorja Fleezanis (attended 1969–1972) professor and Henry A. Upper Chair in Orchestral Studies at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. She was the longest-tenured concertmaster in Minnesota Orchestra history, and the second woman (after Cecylia Arzewski, recently retired from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra) to be appointed concertmaster at a major U.S. orchestra.

Concerts and events

Mar 30 Sat
1:00 pm
First Master of Music Recital: Liam Battle, cello
Strings, Conservatory Student Recitals
Mar 31 Sun
7:00 pm
First Master of Music Recital: Miles Huang, violin
Strings, Conservatory Student Recitals
Apr 1 Mon
1:30 pm
Junior Recital: Angelina Dong, violin
Strings, Conservatory Student Recitals
Apr 5 Fri
4:00 pm
Senior Recital: Benjamin Mekinulov, cello
Strings, Conservatory Student Recitals
Apr 5 Fri
7:30 pm
Junior Recital: Yaming Zhu, violin
Strings, Conservatory Student Recitals