Laurie Shimabukuro

Laurie Shimabukuro grew up on Oahu studying the violin under the Suzuki Method from age four. She joined her first orchestra ensemble in the seventh grade as the concertmaster of the Punahou Advanced Orchestra and the Hawaii Youth Symphony in the eighth grade as the concertmaster of the Youth Symphony II orchestra. As a senior in high school, she was the concertmaster for both the Punahou Symphony and Youth Symphony I orchestras. She was the winner of several awards and competitions, including the Honolulu Symphony’s Talent Pool, Morning Music Scholarship, HMTA, and MTNA competitions in Hawaii. She continued her music studies with Daniel Rouslin at Willamette University, where she served as the concertmaster for the University Chamber Orchestra and concertmaster/soloist for the Salem Chamber Orchestra. She graduated with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Music and Chemistry from Willamette University and earned a Master of Accounting degree from the University of Hawaii.

Music has provided her with several amazing opportunities. She participated in masterclasses/ workshops with Yehudi Menuhin, Kyoko Takezawa, The Emerson String Quartet, Almita Vamos, John Kendall, and other inspiring teachers. She also traveled to Europe with the Ambassadors of Music from Hawaii and performed Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with Japanese chorus groups in Hawaii and Japan. Her musical theater collaborations included the world premier and encore productions of Ohana Arts’ original musical “Peace On Your Wings” in Hawaii and other local community plays.

Through her first job as a math tutor in high school and teaching English in Japan and violin from the time she was a college student, Laurie has enjoyed working with students and helping them develop the confidence to succeed in their future endeavors.

Laurie currently teaches violin part-time and enjoys playing chamber music. Prior to the pandemic, she also performed with the Oahu Civic Orchestra and University of Hawaii Symphony Orchestra while maintaining her accounting career and volunteering as a Master Gardener, Consulting Rosarian, and treasurer of the Honolulu Rose Society.