Canadian violist Tawnya Popoff enjoys an exciting and versatile international career. In addition to being principal violist with the Vancouver Opera (BC) since 2007, she is a member of ROCO, the Walden School Players (NH) and a founding member of Microcosmos string quartet (BC). Ms. Popoff has given solo and chamber music recitals throughout North America and Europe, was a prizewinner in the 2000 Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition, and a recipient of two consecutive Canada Council Individual Grants. Valuing education immensely, she has served on the faculties of the Perlman Music Program, University of Pennsylvania, Syracuse University, SUNY Buffalo, Brandeis and Dobbs Ferry High Schools, the Bowdoin International Music Festival, The Walden School, Artes no Camiño (Spain), and in her private studio.

Ms. Popoff has a keen interest in inter-disciplinary projects and has worked and toured internationally with Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet and Cherylyn Lavagnino Dance in New York City, Marta Marta in Vancouver, BC and the trans-media New York-based group, Vision Into Art. She is passionately devoted to developing and performing music by living composers (including membership with the Cassatt Quartet until 2006), especially those under the age of eighteen at The Walden School! She has recorded for the Koch, Albany, Nonsuch, CRI, SHSK’H (web label), Columbia Composers, and other independent labels as have been heard on air on WNYC, CBC, WGBH (Boston) and KUHF (Houston).

She studied with Gerald Stanick (Fine Arts Quartet) in Vancouver, BC and Martha Katz (Cleveland Quaret) at Rice University in Houston, TX, and was based out of NYC before relocating to Vancouver in 2014.

Aside from musical pursuits, Ms. Popoff has a cycling tour company offering guided, private, and personalized cycling adventures, designs games and toys for her little friends, volunteers regularly, and passionately enjoys the great outdoors in all seasons!