Violinist Leonid Sushansky has been acclaimed widely for his, "Gorgeous tone... Compelling musical personality...Passionate intensity.", The Washington Post. He has appeared with many orchestras and in esteemed concert halls worldwide and has been featured on numerous radio and television programs. "He is a compelling performer, who connects with his audience... whose virtuosity allows him complete mastery over the repertoire for the violin." Elizabeth Schulze, Music Director, Maryland Symphony Orchestra.
In England last summer, his performances of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto brought him high praise. "A bravura performance...a soloist at one with his instrument." Stratford-upon-Avon Herald. "...an impeccable technique and persuasive communication..." Birmingham Post. Leonid's performance is a perfect blend of virtuosity and expression, "He plays with so much heart it makes you want to cry." Nina Totenberg, NPR
This coming fall Leonid Sushansky makes his debut with the Alexandria Symphony and returns to the Phillips Collection for a recital with pianist Carlos Rodriguez. Most recently Mr.Sushansky appeared in recital in Minneapolis,MN and Washington DC with acclaimed pianist Paul Shaw. This past season he also made his debut on the Steinway Series at Smithsonian's Museum of American Art. Being an avid performer of chamber music he begins his third season with the National Chamber Ensemble in the role of Artistic Director and performer. In March he made a special appearance with the Landon Symphonette performing the Theme from "Schindlers List", Sarasate's Introduction and Tarantella and the Kabalevsky Violin Concerto. The week long residency with the Symphonette included a masterclass and a lecture. Recent seasons highlights included recitals with renowned pianist Edward Newman at the Music Hall in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, England's Virtuoso Violin Festival, a Carnegie Hall recital to benefit the American Lung Association, the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland, the Washington County Museum of Art and the Jewish Cultural Center in Washington DC. In April, 2006 he was featured on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered". Orchestral engagements included the Maryland Symphony Orchestra, the New Hampshire Symphony, the Queens Park Symphonia in England, and a Gala Concert at Strathmore Center for the Arts in Rockville, Maryland. At that special event he performed three pieces from the movie "Schindlers List" for violin and orchestra. He has also been a frequent featured guest artist on the Embassy Series in Washington D.C.and has performed all over the United States as well as at music festivals in England, Italy, France, Belgium, Mexico and British Columbia.
His role as a musical story teller and educator has been established not only through his playing, but also through the witty and insightful stories about the music he loves. He transforms the musical experience by giving the listener more ways to relate to and understand the music as well as breaking the barrier between the artist and the audience, making the performance a more personal and interactive experience.. Feeling quite at home in the solo, orchestral and chamber music setting, he served as Concertmaster of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra from 2000-2007. During his tenure as Concertmaster he appeared as soloist with the orchestra on eight different occasions in works from Vivaldi to Khachaturian.
Growing up with the sounds of the violin in St Petersburg, Russia, he began musical studies with his mother, Rimma Sushanskaya, a violinist and pupil of the legendary David Oistrakh. Mr. Sushansky enjoyed early recognition and came to prominence at age 12 when he appeared on the Marvin Hamlisch TV Special for Showtime performing Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto. From age 13, Mr. Sushansky was a scholarship student at the renowned Juilliard School, where he remained for 7 years under the tutelage of Dorothy DeLay. He also had the priviledge of being coached by the great violinist, Isaak Stern. At age 15, he was invited by Zubin Mehta to make his debut with the New York Philharmonic in the Young People's Concerts performing the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto.
Graduate studies were completed at the University of Maryland with Daniel Heifetz. His other important teachers have included Elisabeth Adkins, Dennis Piwowarsky and Arnold Steinhardt. The many prizes and honors he has received include the Outstanding Young Emigre Musician Award, presented by film and Broadway star Tony Roberts, the Leningrad Young Musician's Competition, the Westchester Conservatory Competition, the University of Maryland Concerto Competition, the University of Maryland Graduate Assistantship, the New York Philharmonic National Young Artists Competition, the Bergen Philharmonic Competition and the Inter-Cities Foundation Award.
His debut on tour with the Romanian State Philharmonic under the baton of Ovidiu Balan was critically acclaimed. John Paul Keeler wrote for the Hudson Valley Papers, " The surprise of the evening was the debut here of the violinist Leonid Sushansky ... Sushansky played the Rondo Cappriccioso of Saint-Saens and Romance of Antonin Dvorak flawlessly. He exhibited a Ricci like technique and a brilliant but touching singing tone like Zeno Francescatti". The orchestras he has performed as soloist with include: the Windsor Symphony, Arlington Symphony, Municipal Orchestra of New York, Bergen Philharmonic, Queens Park Symphonia, New York Philharmonic, Romanian State Philharmonic, Fairfax Symphony, Philharmonia Virtuosi of New York, Richmond Philharmonic, McLean Orchestra, Britt Festival Orchestra, Aspen Chamber Orchestra, Staten Island Symphony, the Landon Symphonette, JCC Symphony, Maryland Symphony, Washington Pro-Musica and symphony orchestras of the University of Maryland and Westchester Conservatory.
In his free time Mr. Sushansky has donated energy and talents to a number of worthy causes including an Earth Day Concert at the Washington National Cathedral, several AIDS benefits and a Gala Benefit Concert for Romanian Orphan Children. He has performed as soloist numerous times with the Maryland Symphony for the Independence Day Concert at Antietam National Battlefield. When he opened the season performing Bruch's Violin Concerto #1 in G minor with the Staten Island Symphony, Jonathan Strasser conducting, the Staten Island Advance called his performance, " ... flawless." After his performances of the Khachaturian Violin Concerto with the Maryland Symphony, the Herald-Mail wrote, "Violinist thrills audience...thumbs up for his extraordinary performance." Currently he resides in Arlington, Virginia, and in addition to the violin enjoys theater, reading and rollerblading.
