New York–based violinist, Leerone Hakami, performs across classical, contemporary, Baroque, and cross-genre settings. She holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from The Juilliard School.
Israeli-American violinist Leerone Hakami is a New York–based performer and educator, working across classical and contemporary repertoire, chamber music, Baroque historical performance, improvisation, klezmer, popular music, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Her career has taken her to stages across three continents as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral player, recording artist, and collaborator.
Hakami’s performances have taken her to stages around the world, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Hall, the Château de Fontainebleau in France, and The Israeli Opera in Tel Aviv. Solo appearances include Saint-Saëns’ Third Violin Concerto with the New York Concerti Sinfonietta at Carnegie Hall and Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante with the Vermont Mozart Festival Orchestra. Her distinctions include First Prize at the Prix Ravel in France and the Grand Prize of the New York Artists International Competition. Her Prix Ravel performance was subsequently featured on WQXR’s Young Artists Showcase.
Hakami has also appeared as a featured soloist at prominent galas and cultural events. At the Carle Honors gala at the New-York Historical Society, she was introduced by Tony and Grammy Award winner Leslie Odom Jr. before performing in tribute to celebrated author and illustrator Uri Shulevitz. She also appeared as a featured soloist at the 1,000 Strong Gala in New York City.
Collaboration across genres and artistic disciplines has remained central to Hakami’s work. As an Associate Artist with the Bach Virtuosi Festival, she performs Baroque orchestral and chamber repertoire in New York and Maine. She has also collaborated with members of the International Contemporary Ensemble, recorded with DJ LibraNine, and performed alongside vocalist Adrienne Haan in several productions ofTehorah, including at Carnegie Hall. Her interdisciplinary work has extended to theater, dance, and improvisation through the Off-Broadway production of Magic the Play and performances with NOVA Ensemble.
Her commitment to contemporary music has also led to the premiere and recording of new works. Trey Makler’s Champion for solo violin was written for and dedicated to Hakami. She also appears on four original works for string trio on cellist and composer Tamar Sagiv’s album Shades of Mourning, released by Sono Luminus. Additional projects have included three performances of Adrienne Haan’s Holocaust remembrance program Tehorah, including at Carnegie Hall.
Together with her husband, pianist Shay Slusky, Hakami performs internationally as a violin-and-piano duo. Their repertoire spans the classical canon, contemporary works, klezmer, popular music, film music, and original arrangements.
Alongside their performing careers, Hakami and Slusky are the co-founders and co-directors of West Amadeus Music Studio, a prominent boutique music school in New York City. Under their leadership, West Amadeus has grown into an expansive community connecting students and families with an exceptional faculty of professional musicians. The studio reflects their commitment to rigorous, individualized music education, meaningful performance opportunities, and a supportive artistic community.
Her performance career extends to weddings, galas, corporate functions, and private celebrations at many of New York City’s leading venues, including Cipriani, Gotham Hall, Tribeca Rooftop, Glasshouse Chelsea, and The Empire Rooftop. Her corporate and institutional engagements have included events for JPMorgan Chase, Carnegie Hall, and Synchrony Bank. Performing both as a soloist and in ensembles featuring piano, strings, and other instrumentation, her repertoire ranges from classical and jazz to pop, klezmer, and film music.
Hakami earned both her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from The Juilliard School, where she studied with violinist and pedagogue Lewis Kaplan. During her time at Juilliard, she served as co-principal of the Juilliard Orchestra, performing under conductors including Alan Gilbert, Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, and Gianandrea Noseda. She was also a member of the Honors Chamber Music program and appeared in the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s Young Musicians Program.
Education and community engagement have remained important throughout Hakami’s career. Her work has been recognized through Juilliard’s Morse Teaching Artist Fellowship, Gluck Community Service Fellowship, and several entrepreneurial and community-engagement grants. Through Concerts in Motion, she performs for older adults, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and other audiences throughout New York City. Hakami also co-founded The Heartbeat Project, developing interdisciplinary music and mathematics programs for K–12 students on the Navajo Nation, and the Joining Hands Project, which brought Arab and Jewish musical traditions together through workshops in Jerusalem and Jaffa.