Emily Kohavi

A year after graduating from Cedarville University with a  degree in viola performance, 2011 graduate Emily Powell Kohavi headed to Nashville to pursue graduate studies in music at Belmont University. Within a short time of arriving in Music City, Kohavi was selected to perform at major music events and with well-known artists, including a tour with Martina McBride and performance at the Country Music Awards. 

Kohavi has become one of her agent’s top choices for a female string player, contracting weekly gigs as she continues her graduate studies. She attributes her success to her Cedarville classical music training which challenged her to pursue excellence in her technical studies, intonation, sight-reading, and theory.  “The people who get more work are the people with classical chops,” Kohavi said. “It’s more valuable to have a good classical background and then know how to do a few other things.” 

Kohavi also observed the integration of a Christ-filled life and excellence in musicianship in her professors at Cedarville.

While noting that she competes with a lot of excellent musicians, Emily’s Cedarville training has given her an edge in two areas.  First is her versatility as a violin and viola player, singer and ability to arrange music. Second, she exhibits Christ in both her personal and professional life. 

Kohavi’s husband, 2012 Cedarville graduate Daniel Kohavi, noted that his wife has a unique edge above the competition; Kohavi is a person music professionals enjoy working with. Emily (Powell) Kohavi '11 and Daniel Kohavi '12