About Mikayla

Mikayla Chan is a Chinese-American violinist, chamber musician, and soloist based in NYC.  After her first year of her Master’s degree, she developed a passion for exploring and programming written by female BIPOC and AAPI musicians, hoping to break the conventions of standard repertoire and programming in classical music.

When Mikayla was ten years old, she made her solo debut at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall, performing Vivaldi’s Violin Concerto in A minor. She was also a soloist for the Interschool Orchestras of New York at Trinity Church. Mikayla has also performed and taught young students with the New York Favore Chamber Music series. In her sophomore year of college, she assisted in founding the Greenwich Village Chamber Music Society in 2019.

Mikayla has displayed great artistry and leadership. In early 2024, Mikayla was selected to be the principal 2nd violinist of the Mannes Orchestra at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln center, where she performed Charles Ives’ fourth symphony. She was also principal 2nd violinist of the Mannes Orchestra’s performances and collaboration with the Martha Graham Dance Company on April 18th and 19th 2024 where she performed the ballet suites of Copland’s “Appalachian Spring” and Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring”.

 Mikayla has performed with various chamber groups, performing a wide range of compositions. She has been a member of string quartets, mixed chamber ensembles, baroque ensembles, and has recently debuted her piano quartet, Sunü Quartet, in May of 2024, where she performed Brahms' first piano quartet in G minor.  

Recognized by her performances, Mikayla was the recipient of some rewards and honors. In 2017, she was a semifinalist for the Washington Heights Chamber Orchestra concerto competition, where she performed Bruch’s Violin Concerto no.1 in G minor. She also received the Award of Merit from the Long Island Arts Alliance Scholar Artists’ Award. In 2018, Mikayla was the recipient of the NYSCAME Joel Ratner scholarship.

Mikayla holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in violin performance from the Mannes School of Music at The New School. Notable instructors who Mikayla has studied with are Rebecca Fischer, Curtis Macomber, and Kinga Augustyn. 

Mikayla is currently a freelance musician performing around NYC.  She is often seen performing with Sunü Quartet at notable venues such as the DiMenna Center and Opera America. She has also recently joined PROTESTRA’s team as a musician and is volunteering her time to their library.

As an educator, Mikayla has a strong focus on fundamental techniques alongside forming healthy relationships between students and their instruments. She has taught a wide range of students, some as young as three years old. Mikayla’s biggest goals as a violin teacher is to ensure confidence and ensure creative and musical freedom in her students’ performances.