Leigh Wallenhaupt

Leigh Wallenhaupt, violinist, received her Masters in Music in Violin Performance from New York University in 2012 where she studied with Anton Miller. She graduated with a Bachelors of Music in Violin Performance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in 2010 where she studied with Kevin Lawrence, and also earned her high school diploma with a specialization in violin performance from UNC School of the Arts in 2006. Leigh has also played viola since middle school, and has worked professionally as a violist for the last 5 years. She currently performs with the Brazos Valley Symphony, the Waco Symphony, and the Austin Opera, and has played with Renee Fleming and Yo Yo Ma. She has performed live at Austin’s South by Southwest and Austin City Limits Music Festivals, and with recording artists including Miguel, Father John Misty, and the Black Pumas. Often in the recording studio, Leigh coordinates and records strings for Élan Artists, an entertainment agency, as well as numerous projects of various genres for local and national musicians. She also performs regularly as a soloist, chamber musician, and show band string section leader with Élan Artists, which has taken her as far as Thailand for events and performances! As a classical chamber musician, Leigh has performed throughout the United States as well as in the Netherlands, Germany, and the Czech Republic. Leigh has taught privately since high school, but has been teaching professionally since 2010. While at NYU, Leigh taught private violin and viola lessons as well as ear training and music theory as a member of NYU’s adjunct faculty. Leigh currently directs Suzuki Strings of Austin, a Suzuki Method program of 6 teachers serving over 75 young violinists, violists, and cellists in the Austin area. A “Suzuki kid” herself, she began Suzuki Method violin at the age of 3, and feels passionate about passing on her incredible experience completing the 10 method books and becoming fluent in the language of music. When she is not performing or teaching, Leigh enjoys painting, traveling, and spending time with her three kitties, bunny, and flock of backyard chickens.