{"id":42242,"date":"2026-02-03T08:00:04","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T13:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/concoursmontreal.ca\/?post_type=cmim-competitors&p=42242"},"modified":"2026-03-23T10:00:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T14:00:23","slug":"laurel-gagnon","status":"publish","type":"cmim-competitors","link":"https:\/\/concoursmontreal.ca\/en\/competitors\/laurel-gagnon\/","title":{"rendered":"Laurel Gagnon"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201c<\/span><\/b>I love the feeling of holding the violin and playing it physically, as well as the analytical aspect of being a violinist.\u00a0I\u00a0therefore\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/b>quite enjoy practicing!<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

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HOME - CONCOURS 2026<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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Violinist Laurel Gagnon\u2019s interpretations have been praised for their \u201cnaturalness that [is] both disarming and distinctive\u201d (<\/span>The Straits Times<\/span><\/i>, 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\u2019s Ensemble Connect program for the 2025-2027 seasons.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Laurel started to play the violin at\u00a0age\u00a0three.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0actually began\u00a0playing the violin because my mother told me I\u00a0wasn\u2019t 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\u00a0immediately\u00a0forgot about the flute once I held a violin.\u201d\u00a0Equally at home performing traditional repertoire and premiering new works, she especially enjoys exploring works written by women of previous centuries.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Laurel\u00a0recently won\u00a0First\u00a0Prize at the 2025 Dallas International Violin\u00a0Competition, and\u00a0was awarded prizes at the Elmar Oliveira and Singapore International Violin Competitions. She has performed at venues including Carnegie Hall,\u00a0Flagey\u00a0in Brussels, Singapore\u2019s Victoria Concert Hall, and the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0the\u00a0Grand\u00a0Prize at the 2025 Plowman Chamber Music Competition and won prizes at both the MTNA National Chamber Music Competition and The American Prize.\u00a0Laurel has also performed chamber music at\u00a0numerous\u00a0festivals and\u00a0regularly plays\u00a0with various chamber ensembles. She\u00a0is a member of the New England Chamber Orchestra in New London,\u00a0Connecticut.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Passionate about engaging with local communities, Laurel worked extensively with Indiana University\u2019s 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\u2019s Music in Schools Initiative, and also participated in Indiana University\u2019s Fairview Violin Project, introducing violin to elementary students.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Laurel performs on an 1809 Lupot violin, generously on loan from Canimex Inc., Drummondville (Qu\u00e9bec, Canada).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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programme<\/h2>\n

FIRST ROUND<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH
<\/strong>Sonata for Solo Violin No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001<\/p>\n