Age: 30
“I love the feeling of holding the violin and playing it physically, as well as the analytical aspect of being a violinist. I therefore quite enjoy practicing!”
Violinist Laurel Gagnon’s interpretations have been praised for their “naturalness that [is] both disarming and distinctive” (The Straits Times, Singapore). A recent graduate of the Yale School of Music under the mentorship of Augustin Hadelich, she previously studied with Ben Sayevich and Mauricio Fuks, and is now a fellow of Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect program for the 2025-2027 seasons.
Laurel started to play the violin at age three. “I actually began playing the violin because my mother told me I wasn’t old enough to play the flute. I really wanted to play the flute and planned to switch as soon as I was old enough, but I immediately forgot about the flute once I held a violin.” Equally at home performing traditional repertoire and premiering new works, she especially enjoys exploring works written by women of previous centuries.
Laurel recently won First Prize at the 2025 Dallas International Violin Competition, and was awarded prizes at the Elmar Oliveira and Singapore International Violin Competitions. She has performed at venues including Carnegie Hall, Flagey in Brussels, Singapore’s Victoria Concert Hall, and the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
As a chamber musician, Laurel is the founding violinist of Vinola Trio, a clarinet-violin-piano ensemble with an emphasis on contemporary repertoire. The trio received the Grand Prize at the 2025 Plowman Chamber Music Competition and won prizes at both the MTNA National Chamber Music Competition and The American Prize. Laurel has also performed chamber music at numerous festivals and regularly plays with various chamber ensembles. She is a member of the New England Chamber Orchestra in New London, Connecticut.
Passionate about engaging with local communities, Laurel worked extensively with Indiana University’s Center for Rural Engagement, where she collaborated with community partners to present public performances in libraries, schools, and senior care centres. She was a teaching artist with Yale’s Music in Schools Initiative, and also participated in Indiana University’s Fairview Violin Project, introducing violin to elementary students.
Laurel performs on an 1809 Lupot violin, generously on loan from Canimex Inc., Drummondville (Québec, Canada).
Contact us to sponsor a competitor:
fondation@concoursmontreal.ca
