Born of Thai-Chinese ethnicity, Adrian Anantawan began the violin at nine, and has since established himself as “a rising star in classical music," according to the Globe and Mail. In 2001, he was accepted into the Curtis Institute of Music with a merit-based full scholarship, and completed his bachelor degree under the tutelage of Ida Kavafian and Yumi Ninomiya Scott. He also holds a Masters Degree from Yale University, studying with Peter Oundjian. Anantawan has performed extensively in Canada as a soloist with the Orchestras of Toronto, Nova Scotia, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Montreal, Edmonton and Vancouver. He has also presented feature recitals at the Aspen Music Festival, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall and the White House. His proudest moments have included performances for the late Christopher Reeve and Pope John Paul II. He has also represented Canada as a cultural ambassador in the 2006 Athens Olympics, and was a feature performer at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies. Anantawann is a key proponent of the disabled arts, as he was born without a right hand. He is a national spokesperson for the War Amps of Canada, and the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehab Center. Active within Canadian media, his documentary “Adrian Anantawan: The Story Behind the Notes” is currently being broadcast across the country by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Active within his community, Anantawan helped to create the Virtual Chamber Music Initiative at the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehab Centre. The cross-collaborative project brings researchers, musicians, doctors and educators together to develop adaptive musical instruments capable of being played by young people with disabilities within a chamber music setting. Currently in its second year, the initiative has helped transform the lives of children with Cerebral Palsy, Spinal Muscular Atrophy and Rhett Syndrome. The project culminated with a performance of the VMI with the Montreal Chamber Orchestra in November 2011. In May 2012, he completed his studies at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and was recently appointed the music director of the Conservatory Lab Charter School in Boston, MA.

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