Chenyi Avsharian

A pivotal chapter unfolded when Chenyi earned a four-year scholarship to the renowned Ivan Galamian summer school, Meadowmount, in New York State. This experience not only enriched her artistry but also led her to meet Charles Avsharian, who became both her mentor and her husband.

Her career is marked by numerous distinctions: third prize at the Third Violin Competition of CCOM at age 12, a silver medal at the First Sino-French “Miduo” International Violin Competition, a top-15 placement at the 1st Inaugural Sendai Japan International Violin Competition, and the first-place title at the Second Concert Artist for Chinese Youth Musician Competition. She also holds a silver medal from the Sixth Golden Bell National Competition of China and became the first Asian Gold Medal winner at the Second China International Violin Competition in Qingdao in 2008.

In recent years, Chenyi’s career has flourished both on stage and in leadership. On October 5, 2024, she performed to a full-house audience at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall with the esteemed pianist Rohan De Silva — a moment that stands as one of the most cherished milestones of her career. Her groundbreaking collaboration with the NeuralTones Non-Profit Foundation project — an innovative exploration of music and brainwave research — was featured in the January 2025 issue of Strings Magazine, shining a spotlight on her dedication to pushing the boundaries of how music can connect, heal, and inspire across generations and disciplines.

Alongside her artistic career, Chenyi has served for over a decade as Chief Operating Officer of Shar Music. Founded 63 years ago by her husband Charles and his family, Shar Music is a beloved institution in the bowed string community, dedicated to providing the highest-quality instruments, bows, strings, and accessories to musicians around the world. Together with the Shar team, Chenyi continues to champion the company’s vision: to inspire joy through music and help the next generation find their musical voices.

At home, she is a devoted mother to three daughters, now ages 15, 12, and 11 — balancing motherhood and career with grace and humility.

Her performances and presence have drawn praise from critics and colleagues alike. Classical Guitar Magazine hailed her “charisma,” while Pizzicato Music Magazine celebrated her “grace and great technical precision.” The late Rainer Kussmaul described one of her performances as “the most melting performance I have ever heard in a concert.” The great violinist and conductor Maxim Vengerov called her a “brilliant violinist,” and Xincao Li, Principal Resident Conductor of CNSO and Music Director of the Pusan Philharmonic, lauded her “exquisite music and deep poetic tone that leaves a distinctive luster and takes you to another world.”

Today, Chenyi Avsharian stands as a radiant figure in the international music community — a living example of how talent, purpose, and joy can inspire hearts far beyond the stage.