Lara St. John

Lara St. John is a Canadian-born violinist celebrated for her dynamic performances and innovative approach to classical music. Born on April 15, 1971, in London, Ontario, she began playing the violin at the age of two and made her first public performance as a soloist with an orchestra by age four. St. John studied at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow. She has performed as a soloist with major orchestras worldwide and has been described as a “high-powered soloist” by The New York Times and “something of a phenomenon” by The Strad .

In addition to her performing career, St. John founded her own record label, Ancalagon, in 1999, aiming to provide artists with more control over their music and distribution. She has released several albums, including a recording of Bach’s Six Sonatas and Partitas for Violin Solo, which became the best-selling double album on iTunes in 2007. Her 2011 album of Mozart won a Juno Award, and her 2014 album of Schubert was chosen as one of “the best CDs of spring” by Der Tagesspiegel .

Known for her candid and often provocative statements, St. John has shared numerous memorable quotes. She once remarked, “What is classical music if not the epitome of sensuality, passion, and understated erotica that popular music, even with all of its energy and life, cannot even begin to touch?” Another notable quote is: “I had been playing since I was 2 years old, never remembering a life without music, always playing everything naturally and mostly by ear, and all the grownups wanted were more scales and drudgery out of me.” These reflections highlight her deep connection to music and her unorthodox approach to her craft.