NCE Musicians

Present and Past

Leo Sushansky

Leonid Sushansky (violin)

Violinist Leonid Sushansky has been acclaimed widely for his, "Gorgeous tone... Compelling musical personality...Passionate intensity," The Washington Post and called "Astonishing" by The New York Times. He made his Carnegie Hall recital debut in 2005 and has appeared with many orchestras, as a recitalist and chamber musician in esteemed concert halls worldwide and has been featured on numerous radio and television programs. The orchestras he has performed as soloist with include: the Windsor Symphony, Bergen Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, Romanian State Philharmonic, Fairfax Symphony, Philharmonia Virtuosi of New York, the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic, Richmond Philharmonic, Britt Festival Orchestra, Berlin Chamber Orchestra, Aspen Chamber Orchestra, Columbia Orchestra, Staten Island Symphony, New Hampshire Symphony, Maryland Symphony and Alexandria Symphony among others.  

He began musical studies with his mother, Rimma Sushanskaya, a violinist and pupil of the legendary David Oistrakh. Mr. Sushansky enjoyed early recognition when at age 12 he appeared on the Marvin Hamlisch TV Special for Showtime, performing Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. From age 13, Mr. Sushansky was a scholarship student at the Juilliard School, where he remained for 7 years under the tutelage of Dorothy DeLay. He also had the privilege of being coached by the great violinist, Isaac Stern. At age 15, he was invited by Zubin Mehta to make his debut with the New York Philharmonic performing the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto. Graduate studies were completed at the University of Maryland with Daniel Heifetz and the Guarneri Quartet. Daniel Heifetz invited him to perform with him on tour in major venues throughout the country for several years. Another important mentor was Catherine Filene Shouse, the founder of Wolf Trap who introduced him to Isaac Stern. After performances of the Khachaturian Violin Concerto with the Maryland Symphony, the Herald-Mail wrote, "Violinist thrills audience...thumbs up for his extraordinary performance."  

Mr. Sushansky has a long history of being an outstanding educator and violin teacher, He has been on the faculty of University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg and the Academy of Fine Arts in Maryland besides maintaining his own private studio. His students are members of the American Youth Philharmonic as well as Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras(Four students have served as concertmaster). Former students have graduated from the Juilliard School among many other conservatories and have continued on to careers in music.  

He is the Artistic Director of the National Chamber Ensemble. Recent and upcoming appearances include the Kennedy Center, Merkin Hall in NYC, debuts with Musica Animae Orchestra of Budapest at the Berlin Philharmonie and Leipzig Gewandhaus. This past season he performed recitals in Virginia, Pennsylvania and Washington DC as well as soloist with the Philharmonisches Kammerorchester Berlin and the National Chamber Ensemble. He has performed five times in recital as guest artist at the Phillips Collection.  

The many prizes and honors received include the Outstanding Young Emigre Musician Award, winning the Leningrad Young Musician's Competition, the Westchester Conservatory Competition, the University of Maryland Concerto Competition, Three University of Maryland Graduate Assistantships, the New York Philharmonic National Young Artists Competition, the Bergen Philharmonic Competition and the Inter-Cities Foundation Award.  

Currently he resides in Arlington, Virginia, and in addition to the violin enjoys theater, reading and rollerblading.  

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