Cellist Joanne Yesol Choi Wins Canada's Virginia Parker Prize for 2025

Choi receives a cash prize of $30,000

Established in 1982 by the late Virginia Parker, Canada's Virginia Parker Prize is awarded annually by the Canada Council to a classical singer, instrumentalist, or conductor under the age of 32 who demonstrates outstanding talent, musicianship and artistic merit, and who makes a valuable contribution to artistic life in Canada and internationally.

In 2025, the prize — which carries a cash value of $30,000 CAD — was given to cellist Joanne Yesol Choi.

Choi was recently named one of CBC’s 30 Under 30 Canadian Musicians. She is a founding member of the Dior Quartet, which from 2021 to 2024 was Quartet-in-Residence at the Glenn Gould School at the Royal Conservatory of Music.

The ensemble has received a number of distinctions, including winning the 2023 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition, and being featured on major stages across North America, Europe, and Oceania, including Carnegie Hall, Koerner Hall, Stanford University’s Bing Concert Hall, Bravo! Vail, Tippet Rise Art Center, and the Banff International String Quartet Festival. The group has also reached the finals at the Banff and Melbourne International String Quartet Competitions.

A guest lecturer at Stanford University and the University of Toronto, Choi has also offered coaching at the Royal Conservatory of Music, the Mostly Modern Festival, and more. She now leads Solegio Arts and Art of Four, two initiatives that advance accessibility, representation, and innovation in classical music.

"[I am] absolutely honored to share that I am the recipient of the 2025 Virginia Parker Prize from the Canada Council, a $30,000 prize and the highest national honor for a Canadian classical musician under 32," Choi wrote on social media. "It is also the first time in 26 years that a Korean-Canadian is receiving this award!"

"Winning this prize is one of the most defining moments of my career — to be recognized not just for where I’ve been, but for where I hope to go, is profoundly meaningful. Thank you so much! It is truly the biggest honor."