We’ve spent our lives side by side, sometimes in unison, sometimes carving our own paths, but always connected by the same roots: music and family. This album is a reflection of that journey. Coming together as brothers and as artists, we wanted to create something that feels honest to who we are, both individually and together.
In these performances, you’ll hear not just two violins, but a lifetime of shared experiences from early beginnings, years of growth, and a deep, unspoken understanding that only family can bring. For us, this project is more than a collaboration; it’s a reunion, a conversation, and a celebration of where we come from.
We dedicate this album to our parents, whose unwavering love, sacrifice, and support made this journey possible from the very beginning.
We’re grateful to share this with you.

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Double celebrates the unique artistry and musical bond of violinists Nikki Chooi and Timothy Chooi. Spanning more than two centuries of repertoire, the album explores the many possibilities of the violin duo: intimate conversation, spirited rivalry, lyrical reflection, and dazzling virtuosity. From the elegance of the Baroque era to the rhythmic brilliance of the twentieth century, each work reveals a different facet of the brothers’ musical partnership.

Dmitri Shostakovich’s Five Pieces for Two Violins and Piano, arranged by Lev Atovmyan, opens the program with wit, nostalgia, and understated charm. Adapted from the composer’s film scores and incidental music, these miniatures reveal a lighter side of Shostakovich’s musical personality. The stately Prelude and graceful Gavotte evoke an imagined past, while the poignant Elegy offers moments of quiet introspection. In contrast, the Waltz and Polka sparkle with theatrical flair and sly humor, highlighting the character and charm of this set of pieces.

Moritz Moszkowski’s Suite for Two Violins and Piano, Op. 71 embodies the elegance and brilliance of the late Romantic salon tradition. A composer celebrated for his melodic invention and pianistic sophistication, Moszkowski treats the two violins as equal partners in a richly textured musical dialogue. The energetic opening movement brims with vitality, while the graceful Allegro moderato evokes poise and refinement. A warmly expressive Lento provides lyrical contrast before the dazzling Finale races to an exuberant conclusion.

The album then turns to the Baroque with Jean-Marie Leclair’s Sonata for Two Violins in E minor, Op. 3 No. 5. Often considered the founder of the French violin school, Leclair fused Italian virtuosity with French elegance and clarity. Written without continuo accompaniment, the sonata showcases the expressive possibilities of two intertwined violin lines. Its opening movement, Allegro ma poco, unfolds with poised lyricism and contrapuntal finesse, the elegant Gavotte reflects the courtly dance traditions of eighteenth-century France, and the concluding Presto bursts forth with brilliant interplay and sparkling momentum.

At the center of the program stands Sergei Prokofiev’s Sonata for Two Violins in C major, Op. 56, one of the twentieth century’s landmark works for the medium. Composed in 1932, the sonata explores the remarkable variety of color and texture possible with only two instruments. The Andante cantabile opens with poised lyricism and understated expressivity. In the Allegro, Prokofiev’s unmistakable voice emerges through sharp rhythms, buoyant energy, and driving intensity. The Commodo (quasi allegretto) provides a moment of repose, before the Allegro con brio brings the work to a thrilling conclusion through brilliant contrapuntal interplay and irrepressible momentum.

Pablo de Sarasate’s Navarra, Op. 33 brings fiery Spanish flair and breathtaking virtuosity to the album. Inspired by the dances and colors of northern Spain, the work flows with rapid exchanges, brilliant harmonics, left-hand pizzicato, and exhilarating rhythmic interplay. Sarasate transforms the two violins into dazzling partners, balancing technical brilliance with irresistible warmth and exuberance.

The album concludes with Antonín Dvořák’s beloved Humoresque, arranged for two violins by Sheridan Seyfried. One of the composer’s most recognizable melodies, the work offers a moment of warmth and lyricism after the virtuosic brilliance of the preceding pieces. In this intimate arrangement, the two violins share and intertwine the famous theme in graceful dialogue, bringing the album to a heartfelt and elegant close.

In Double, Nikki and Timothy Chooi bring their distinctive voices into conversation across styles, eras, and traditions. The result is a program that highlights not only the versatility and richness of the violin duo repertoire, but also the deep musical kinship shared by two artists and brothers performing side by side.