Iranian/French-American solo violinist, Daniel Rafimayeri, is the Burdick-Thorne Gold medalist in the 2019 Stulberg International String Competition where he also captured the award for best performance of a Bach selection. Born and raised in New York City, Daniel attended Hunter College High School and the Manhattan School of Music pre-college program.

Highlights among his recent and forthcoming solo engagements include performances with The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Chamber Symphony, Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra, York Symphony Orchestra, New York Youth Symphony Orchestra, and the Manhattan School of Music Philharmonic. He is a featured artist with the French Consulate in New York City and has performed at venues including Summer Stage, Carnegie Hall, Miller Auditorium, Kosciuszko Foundation, Harris Concert Hall at the Aspen Music Festival, Alice Tully at Lincoln Center, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

Previously, Daniel won the 2015/16 New York Youth Symphony concerto competition and made his solo debut with the NYSO. He went on to win the Manhattan School of Music concerto competition and was featured on From the Top where he soloed with the York Symphony Orchestra in Pennsylvania. Daniel was selected for several Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center high school chamber showcases and led his chamber group to win the Manhattan School of Music chamber competitions. 

A passionate chamber musician, Daniel was selected for the Wu Han/David Finckel chamber program at the Aspen Music Festival, the Heifetz Music Institute in Virginia, The Young Artists Program in Ottawa, Keshet Eilon Music Center, Music Academy of the West, and Greenwood Chamber Music Camp in Massachusetts.

Daniel is currently pursuing his Bachelor’s degree from the Juilliard School studying with Catherine Cho. Previous teachers include Patinka Kopec, Shmuel Ashkenasi, Si-Jing Huang, Paul Biss, and Glenn Dicterow.

Daniel plays on a Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume violin, Paris c. 1840.