gifted Turkish-born American violinist of Armenian descent, sister of Ida Kavafian; b. Istanbul, May 10, 1948. In 1956 Kavafian went with her family to the U.S., where she took violin lessons in Detroit. She then entered the Juilliard School of Music in N.Y., where she received instruction in violin and in chamber music performance from members of the Juilliard Quartet, earning a Master of Arts degree in 1972.

In 1969 Kavafian made her debut at Carnegie Recital Hall in N.Y. Her European debut followed in Paris in 1973. She appeared as soloist with leading orchestras and also played chamber music concerts, serving as an artist-member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center from 1980. She likewise gave duo performances with her sister.

Beginning in 1982, Kavafian taught at the Mannes College of Music, and at the Manhattan School of Music and Queens College of the City University of N.Y., beginning a year later. On Sept. 24, 1993, she was soloist in the premiere of TOD MACHOVER'S Forever and Ever, a concerto for hyperviolin and chamber orchestra, with Hugh Wolff and the St. Paul (Minnesota) Chamber Orchestra.