ABOUT

        Ava Shedd is a passionate and inspiring violinist whose musical journey has been marked by incredible achievements and performances. She is dedicated to making a lasting impact through her music and providing exceptional performances to all audiences. Her orchestral debut occurred at age 11 where she performed Scéne de Ballet by de Bériot as a soloist with the Bay Youth Concert Orchestra. 

        During her studies at the College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) at the University of Cincinnati, Ava expanded her orchestral experience by performing as a substitute violinist with multiple orchestras including the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra and the Dayton Philharmonic. She  currently holds contracted positions as Assistant Principal 2nd Violin for the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, Section Violinist for the Richmond (IN) Symphony Orchestra and Section Violinist for the Lexington Philharmonic. She is also on the sub list for the New World Symphony in Miami, FL. In addition to these orchestras, Ava has performed as a substitute violinist with the Carmel Symphony Orchestra, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra and the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra.

       As a performer, Ava’s immense dedication to her craft earned her recognition in several concerto competitions and auditions. In high school, she had the distinct honor of soloing with the York River Symphony Orchestra, the Hampton Roads Philharmonic, and the Bay Youth Symphony Orchestra. In addition to these accomplishments, she won 2nd place in the Instrumental Division of the 2020 Bland Competition, and 1st Prize in the Virginia Beach Gamma Xi Chapter Talent Hunt in 2019. She won the concertmaster position for the All-VA Orchestra in February of 2020. Ava was also named winner of the CCM Violin Concerto Competition in 2022 and 2024. By winning these competitions, she had the privilege of performing Rimsky-Korsakov’s Russian Fantasy on 2 Themes and Korngold’s Violin Concerto in D Major Op. 35 as a soloist with the CCM Concert Orchestra under the baton of Dr. Aik Khai Pung.

         In January 2024, Ava received the opportunity to perform with the CCM Philharmonia Orchestra sitting Principal 2nd Violin at Carnegie Hall, playing in a tribute concert dedicated to the music of Stephen Flaherty. Recent accomplishments include 1st Prize winner of the 2025 Matinee Musicale Scholarship Competition and Winner of the 2025 Jan and Beattie Wood Concerto Competition where she performed the first movement of Barber’s Violin Concerto as a soloist with the Brevard Music Center Orchestra. She also received the Honarable Mention award at the Indianapolis Matinee Musicale Graduate Instrumental division in February 2026. Ava’s summer festival appearances include the Meadowmount School of Music, Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, Heifetz International Chamber Music Festival, Miami Beach Classical Music Festival, Brevard Music Center, and the Sarasota Music Festival. 

      An advocate of new music, Ava has collaborated with several composers at participating festivals and through educational institutions. She has premiered works by Andrew Strawn and Chris Chiarotti and performed orchestral works by composers such as Mason Bates, Jennifer Higdon, Brian Nabors, Joel Thompson, Aya Yoshida, Charlotte Bray, Tun Dan, Gabriela Lena Frank, and Jessie Montgomery.

       In addition to her performing accomplishments, Ava has a big heart for teaching and instructing students in the studies of violin and piano. She studied piano for 12 years in addition to her violin studies and won several local piano competitions in high school. Previous teaching experience includes working for Cincinnati Strings from 2023-2025 and teaching beginner/intermediate violin and piano students privately in her home studio from 2015-2021. She is also a Suzuki certified violin instructor in books 1-3. Ava currently teaches at the Stafford Music Academy in Bloomington, Indiana. 

        Ava received her bachelor’s degree in violin performance studying under Dr. Won-Bin Yim at the University of Cincinnati (CCM) in 2025 and is currently pursuing her masters degree in violin performance studying under Prof. Grigory Kalinovsky at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. 

        Currently based in Indiana, Ava has expanded her musical network and now works in several musical organizations throughout the state of Indiana as well as in regional symphonies across the states of Kentucky and Ohio. Ava has most recently performed in the Candlelight Concerts sponsored by FEVER in her hometown of Virginia Beach, VA and in Indianapolis. Outside of music, Ava hosts a podcast about her faith titled FERTILIZE MY FAITH which streams on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. She also loves spending time with her 7 siblings and enjoys drinking coffee, reading new books, and thrifting. 

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