Finalist in the Matthieu-Duguay International Competition and founder of ensemble Aquitaine, Eleanor is sought after as a soloist, ensemble leader, chamber musician, and orchestral player. Eleanor made her directorial debut in 2025 with the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra, curating and soloing alongside Ingrid Matthews in a baroque program, and will perform this upcoming season as a soloist and guest artist with many ensembles across the country.
Eleanor is a passionate chamber musician and champion of unknown composers. She is co-founder of the ensemble Duo Moda, a historical violin/cello duo, whose album of unpublished duets from the early 18th century is expected to release in 2025. Duo Moda is a recipient of the George J. Jakob Global Enrichment Grant and a Project Grant from The Marks Center at The Juilliard School, as well as support from Bourbon Baroque.
An avid researcher, Eleanor has presented research at conferences across the country, most recently at the American Musicological Society, the Early Music America Summit, UCLA, and Case Western Reserve University. Her work focuses on the composer Emilie Mayer and performance practice of nineteenth century chamber repertoire.
Eleanor is on faculty as a violin teacher at the Lakeside School and workshop co-director at Seattle Historical Arts for Kids. At Indiana University, she was awarded the Associate Instructor position for historical violin. She has given lectures on historical performance at universities and young artist programs across the country. Eleanor also serves as Executive Director at Gallery Concerts.
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Biography
Baroque violinist Eleanor Legault is a versatile performer and interpreter of early music, who plays with a diverse roster of period ensembles. Dividing her time between New York City and Seattle, she has recently appeared with The English Concert, Les Arts Florissants, Philharmonie Austin, ARTEK, MAFestival Bruges, Holland Baroque, Seattle Bach Festival, and Juilliard415 as concertmaster. She has worked with directors such as Masaaki Suzuki, William Christie, Paul Agnew, and Kris Bezuidenhout, Rachel Podger, John Butt, Francesco Corti, and Leila Schayegh.
Eleanor holds a graduate diploma in historical performance at The Juilliard School, where she was a recipient of a full tuition scholarship. She has also studied at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and Lawrence University, where she holds a dual degree in Violin Performance and English Literature. Principal teachers in historical performance include Kati Debretzeni, Walter Reiter, Rachel Podger, Cynthia Roberts, Elizabeth Blumenstock, Stanley Ritchie, and Julie Wedman. She performs on a composite Tecchler baroque violin from Rome, 1703.
When not performing, Eleanor enjoys reading, writing, and cooking Ottolenghi recipes.
