Ava Shedd

         Ava Shedd is a passionate and inspiring violinist whose musical journey has been marked by remarkable achievements and performances. Her orchestral debut occurred at the age of 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 subbing with multiple orchestras such as the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, Dayton Philharmonic, Carmel Symphony Orchestra, Lexington Philharmonic, and Richmond Symphony Orchestra. She is currently Assistant Principal 2nd Violin for the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic and on the sub list for the New World Symphony.

       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. She won the concertmaster position for the All-VA Orchestra in 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.

         In January 2024, Ava received the opportunity to perform with the CCM Philharmonia Orchestra 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. 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. 

       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 from 2015-2021. She is also a Suzuki certified violin instructor in books 1-3.

        Ava received her Bachelor’s Degree in violin performance studying with Dr. Won-Bin Yim at the University of Cincinnati (CCM) in 2025 and is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Violin Performance studying under Prof. Grigory Kalinovsky at the Jacob’s School of Music at Indiana University. 

My teaching style includes a mix of technique and musicality. I target areas where pedagogical terms are used and incorporate ways to make repertoire enforce the technical skills being taught periodically. A typical 30-minute lesson may consist of 15 minutes of technique and 15 minutes of musicality.