Violinist Laurel Gagnon’s interpretations praised for their “naturalness that [is] both disarming and distinctive” (The Straits Times, Singapore). Performing as a soloist and chamber musician, she is currently based in New York City and is a fellow of Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect program for the 2025–2027 seasons. Equally at home performing traditional repertoire and premiering new works, she especially enjoys exploring works written by women of previous centuries.

Gagnon recently won third prize at the 2026 Concours internationale musicale de Montréal, first prize at the 2025 Dallas International Violin Competition, and was previously awarded top 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. She has appeared as soloist with orchestras including the Dallas Chamber Symphony, Kansas City Chamber Orchestra, Lynn Philharmonia, Yale Philharmonia, and Greenwich Village Orchestra.

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 grand prize at the 2025 Plowman Chamber Music Competition, and won prizes at both the MTNA National Chamber Music Competition and The American Prize. The group has performed at institutions including Boston Conservatory, Indiana University, and Truman State University, and has completed multiple residencies at the Avaloch Farm Music Institute. Actively involved in chamber music education, the ensemble has led masterclasses at Boston Conservatory, Truman State University, and worked with young ensembles at the Bridges Musical Arts Youth Organization. 

Outside of her collaborations with Vinola Trio, Laurel has also performed chamber music at the Halcyon Music Festival, Mimir Chamber Festival, and Vivace International Music Festival, where she was invited to join as junior faculty in 2025. She attended Marlboro Music Festival and joined the Maine Chamber Music Seminar as a Jeiven Fellow in 2026. Laurel performs regularly with various chamber ensembles in the Northeastern United States region, and is a member of the New England Chamber Orchestra in New London, CT.

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 centers. As a teaching artist with Yale’s Music in Schools Initiative, she was partnered with a public school teacher in New Haven to provide classroom teaching to high school music students. Laurel also participated in Indiana University’s Fairview Violin Project, introducing violin to elementary students through group instruction at a local public school.

A graduate of the Yale School of Music under the mentorship of Augustin Hadelich, she previously studied with Ben Sayevich at the International Center for Music at Park University and with Mauricio Fuks at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. 

Laurel performs on an 1809 Lupot violin, generously on loan from Canimex Inc., Drummondville, Québec, Canada.