Ayaan Ahmad will perform Camille Saint-Saëns’ Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A minor, Op. 28, and
Pablo de Sarasate’s Gypsy Airs (Zigeunerweisen) with the WPO on Sunday, March 26.

Bangladeshi-American violinist Ayaan Ahmad began the violin at age four and has continued his studies with the late Jan Sloman of the Cleveland Institute of Music, Ryan Meehan of the Calidore String Quartet, Donald Weilerstein and Li Lin. In 2020, he won Third Prize in the senior division of the Sejong Virtual Music Competition (Chicago) and the award for best interpretation of Korean music. That year he also advanced to the final national round of the MTNA (Music Teachers National Association) Junior Strings Competition. Ayaan was accepted to the Perlman Music Program a year later and, in 2022, at age 15, made his orchestral debut with the Concord Orchestra (MA), playing the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto. Ayaan was featured on NPR’s From the Top radio program and recently was invited to perform at Verbier Festival, a premier international classical music festival in Switzerland. Ayaan also enjoys playing the guitar, ultimate frisbee, and is passionate about math and history.