Leonard Hotea
VIOLINIST
AWARD WINNER
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
I believe your wedding day deserves more than just an exceptional musician. It deserves a complete musical journeyâone that begins with an emotional, magical ceremony and builds into a stunning, high-energy show performance at your reception.
With thousands of performances to my name, I bring more than experience. I bring passion, creativity, and a refined approach shaped by years of attention to detail. From the first note of your ceremony to the final song that fills the dance floor, every moment is carefully crafted to reflect your vision and elevate your celebration.
I take pride in reading the room effortlessly, guiding the flow of your day, and creating unforgettable moments that your guests will talk about long after the celebration ends. From intimate, heartfelt melodies to an electrifying reception performance, my goal is simple: to make your wedding truly unforgettable.
I invite you to experience what itâs like to work with a dedicated professional who understands how important this day is and is committed to bringing it to life with grace, precision, and artistry.
Schedule a phone consultation to learn more about booking my exceptional talents for your once-in-a-lifetime event.
Details
Instruments
Violin
Music Genres
African
Bollywood
Caribbean
Classical
Dance
Disco
EDM
Flamenco
Hip-Hop
Indian
Jazz
Latin
Mariachi
Pop
R&B
Rock
World Music
Music Services
Live Music
Recorded Music
Sound Equipment
Wedding Activities
Rehearsals & Parties
After Party
Rehearsal Dinner
Welcome Party
Wedding
After Party
Ceremony
Cocktail Hour
Reception
Rehearsal Dinner
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Meet the team
Leonard Hotea
Violinist
Leonard is an award-winning violinist who boasts an impressive musical education from both Europe and the United States. His background in classical music has given him technical mastery that he brings to every performance. Leonard has a wide repertoire ranging from contemporary to classical, and he can impress and captivate guests while setting the perfect atmosphere at weddings and events.
Reviews
5.0
out of 5.062 reviews
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Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Leonard is an outstanding violinist whose talented, emotional playing elevated ceremonies, cocktail hours, and receptions. Heâs professional, responsive, and adaptableâlearning requests, collaborating with other musicians, and engaging guests. Couples say he created unforgettable, highâenergy and elegant moments and highly recommend him.Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 4
Darlena V
Highlighted review.
5.0
4/22/2026
Leonard was truly one of the most unforgettable parts of our wedding day!! đ¤From the moment he started playing, he created the most beautiful, emotional atmosphere that made every...
thing feel even more special. His talent is absolutely incredible, but what made him stand out even more was how interactive and engaging he was with our guestsâŚeveryone couldnât stop talking about him!
He brought so much energy, and elegance to our day, and genuinely made the entire experience feel magical. I felt so lucky to have him be a part of such an important moment in our lives. If youâre looking for someone who will not only play beautifully but elevate your entire event, Leonard is it. I canât recommend him enough!! Thank you Leonard!!!đĽłđĽł Love, Darlena and Kenny
Melanie C
5.0
5/17/2026
I cant even express how amazing Leonard was for our wedding. Every single guest was blown away by him as was my husband and I. He was so engaged with everyone and was also so passi...
onate planning this with us beforehand. Hes more than a musician - he puts his heart and soul into what he does. The value he brought to our wedding will be remembered forever!
Any questions?
Judy B
5.0
5/11/2026
Top notch from booking to performance. Leonard is not only amazing at his craft but a super nice person. Everyone loved him at our engagement party. We will be hiring him again.Â
Christine
5.0
4/20/2026
Having Leonard play the violin at our wedding ceremony and reception was one of the best decisions we couldâve made. His song selections were spot on & the ceremony entrances felt ...
magical. Some of our guests thought they were hearing a recording because his live music performances were so amazing! Absolutely recommend working with Leonard!
Sarina M
5.0
4/20/2026
Leonard was amazing! I had a last minute song request for our exit ceremony song and he killed it!! He looked the part and played his heart out. I wish I didnât miss some of cockta...
il hour but my guests keep raving about how involved Leonard was. Â We have a two year old and he let her get a photo op with the violin!Â
Ugonna A
5.0
4/05/2026
Leonard was absolutely amazing. I was so taken aback by his performance I had to ask my sister where he found him and how do I get in contact with him for my future wedding. He is ...
exceptionally kind and took time to converse and relate with many guests. You can tell he is passionate and loves what he does. What sets him apart even further is that he loves people and is very personable. He should be a priority for any person, group, or company who is hosting an event and wants musical entertainment.
Response from Leonard-Violin Show on 04/06/2026
Thank you so much for your kind words, this means a lot. I am extremely happy to share my ...
passion with you all :)
Sarah S
5.0
3/28/2026
AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING!!!Â
From the moment Leonard started playing as I walked down the aisle, we knew we'd made the right choice. He had our guests in tears as he played the mos...
t beautiful music. His performance during cocktail hour was breathtaking, and every single guest told us how impressed they were. He is a truly talented musician and brought this incredible WOW factor to our wedding that we can't stop talking about.Â
His playlist included multi cultural music of which he took the time to memorize each note and ditched the paper! He engaged with our guests throughout the night and made everyone feel part of something so special. Leonards professionalism and skill turned our celebration into fairytale. We couldn't have asked for a kinder and more genuine soul to be part of our day. We are forever grateful !! You need to hire him for your next event! I pinky promise you wonât regret it!Â
Alex S
5.0
3/06/2026
I can't recommend Leonard enough, he's got such amazing energy and elevates the vibe of any wedding!
Claudia O
5.0
3/04/2026
An absolutely incredible performance! Leonard the violinist brought such a beautiful and elegant energy to my birthday celebration. Every note was played with so much passion and a...
rtistry, and it truly elevated the entire atmosphere of the evening. My guests are still talking about how amazing the music was. Thank you for helping make my 40th birthday celebration so memorable and special. Highly recommend!
Cielo S
5.0
2/17/2026
Leo was absolutely amazing! My guests truly loved and enjoyed every second of him. I would 100% book him again. Very entertaining and great vibes thank you so much! â¤ď¸
Christina W
5.0
2/02/2026
Leo was our violinist for our ceremony and he was literally unreal. I canât even count the amount of times that people said he was top notch and I even got âwhatever you paid, he w...
as worth itâ. He was so easy to work with from start to finish and incredibly talented. We were so happy he was a part of our special day!Â
Rachel A
5.0
1/31/2026
Wow! What an incredible experience! Leonard the Violinist played for the guests at my ceremony at the Park Savoy Estate, and he was absolutely amazing! His music created the most j...
oyful and celebratory atmosphere in the PS Chapel. Our guests were completely captivated by his talent, artistry, and style. It was truly an honor to work with him, and I would highly recommend him to anyone looking to make their event unforgettable!
Shelby R
5.0
1/24/2026
We couldnât have asked for anything better than this, we saw Leonard perform at a wedding that we attended, we were truly impressed with how versatile his performances were from th...
e ceremony to a high energy performance on the dance floor , this is something we have never seen before .
When it came time to plan our wedding we knew we had to have him and he exceeded every expectations, his presence was incredible and he is a must have !
Truly unique, professional that will definitely be the show of your event !
Aleksandra L
5.0
1/04/2026
Leonard was absolutely exceptional at our wedding. From the ceremony to the cocktail hour and our first dance, his violin playing was elegant, emotional, and beautifully timed. He ...
set the perfect tone for each moment and truly elevated the entire experience for us and our guests. So many people commented on how stunning the music was. Leonard was professional, talented, and a joy to work withâwe couldnât have imagined our wedding without him. He interacted with friends and family, and it was just such a wonderful experience. We even rushed our private cocktail hour, to join in on fun! We feel like we received much more than we anticipated and received numerous joyous comments from guests. We highly recommend him to anyone looking for a truly special musical touch. We truly can't say enough good things. Leonard is the real deal!!
Amanda S
5.0
1/04/2026
I was looking for last minute entertainment to add a unique touch to our wedding and came across Leonardâand Iâm so glad I did. He was extremely professional, responsive, and broug...
ht incredible energy to our event. He absolutely stole the show, and our guests are still raving about him. Hands down the highlight of our wedding. Highly recommend!
Bella Z
5.0
1/03/2026
Leonard was hired for the entirety of my wedding and from the start of the ceremony all the way to reception he had very high energy. He was very communicative and executed the day...
and night perfectly. I couldnât have asked for a better night. Thank you!Â
Jacqueline G
5.0
12/15/2025
Leo, our violinist was such a great added touch! Â His music elevated our cocktail hour and everyone commented how beautiful the music was. His communication and professionalism was...
superb. I would highly recommend his services. We are a hard group to please and he delivered!Â
Elisa C
5.0
12/02/2025
Leonard was absolutely phenomenal! From start to finish, he exceeded every expectation we had for our wedding. He went above and beyond by learning Italian songs specifically for o...
ur event, which meant so much to us and our families. During cocktail hour, he had guests dancing and completely set the perfect mood â people are still talking about how amazing it was!
Leonard also performed our first dance and ceremony, and it was truly magical. His talent, professionalism, and warmth made everything feel so special and personal. On top of being an incredible musician, heâs an amazing person and a true pleasure to work with. I will always cherish those moments he created for us.
If youâre considering a violinist for any event â especially a wedding â book Leonard immediately. You will not regret it.
Leslie V
5.0
11/25/2025
We hired Leonard for our wedding reception cocktail hour, and he was absolutely phenomenal. His performance created the perfect atmosphereâelegant, engaging, and truly memorable. A...
ll of our guests commented on how much they enjoyed his music. He exceeded our expectations in every way, and we couldnât be happier. Highly recommended!
Sijo T
5.0
11/24/2025
You wonât meet a better violinist for any type of event! He is absolutely đĽand your guests wonât ever be bored
Michael P
5.0
11/19/2025
I needed a moment to share my appreciation for the incredible Leonard! I just got married last Friday, and during the planning, my mom surprised me with a wonderful giftâa violinis...
t for my wedding. I was thrilled when she told me, but meeting Leonard in person truly blew me away with his talent. His performance added the perfect touch to the ceremony and cocktail hour. I can't fully express how skilled he isâif you're looking to add that special something to your event, Leonard is absolutely the person to hire! Â
Rachel B
5.0
11/17/2025
I canât rave enough about Leo! He made our ceremony feel extra special with our two favorite songs, which he played so beautifully. He also brought so much energy to our cocktail h...
our with the best top hitsâour guests could not stop complimenting him. Weâre so grateful we had him as part of our day. Truly talented and highly recommended!Â
Michele G
5.0
11/03/2025
Amazing!!!
Simply Amazing adds a touch of elegance and  charm to your event would definitely recommendÂ
Briana S
5.0
11/02/2025
Leonard was the violinist for our wedding, and I truly couldnât be more grateful that we chose him. He came highly recommended by our wedding singers, who had seen him perform at a...
nother event and insisted we consider himâand Iâm so glad we did. Leonard exceeded every expectation.
From the very beginning, he was incredibly communicative and helpful. He didnât just play musicâhe helped us plan our entire reception entrance, offering thoughtful recommendations and coordinating the timing to make it a truly special moment. His attention to detail and genuine care made the planning process seamless.
On the night of our wedding, Leonard absolutely stole the show. His performance was breathtaking, and he engaged with our guests in such a warm, personable way. He played beautifully and brought an energy that elevated the entire evening. I lost count of how many people reached out afterward just to compliment him.
Beyond his talent, Leonard is simply a wonderful person. I felt instantly comfortable with himâlike Iâd known him for years. He went above and beyond both before and during the wedding, and his presence made our celebration even more meaningful.
If youâre considering Leonard for any occasion, do it. Youâll be making the best possible choice. I canât wait to work with him againâthere truly are no words for how exceptional he is, both as a violinist and as a human being.
Response from Leonard-Violin Show on 11/21/2025
Thank you Briana, the atmosphere was superb, the crowd and energy was amazing !
A night to...
never forget !
Allie C
5.0
10/11/2025
Leonard was the highlight of my wedding! He was amazing every guest loved him. He is interactive and gets the crowd going. I 100% recommend him for any event but especially wedding...
s!Â
Edlyn R
5.0
10/11/2025
Leonard was fantastic. We used him for our Catholic wedding ceremony as well as cocktail hour at the venue. During and after the wedding, we got countless compliments on how well h...
e performed, sounded, and how much he added to our special day. Leonard was great at communicating and answered all of our questions professionally and with ease. With all of the craziness on the day of a wedding, we did not have to worry about him being on time since we knew how professional he was. 100% recommend him to anyone! Thanks again Leonard, you are the best!Â
Nicole D
5.0
10/07/2025
Leonard is incredible! He came recommended to me by my DJ, once I heard him play through his videos I called him immediately. My wedding was September 13th and every single person ...
keeps telling me how they loved the violinist and we made the best decision having him. I couldnât agree more, I feel like I need to have another party just so I can have him play! 10/10 would recommend.Â
Omer B
5.0
10/02/2025
Leo was one of the best entertainment we had at the wedding. On short notice he was able to collaborate with a sax player and they managed to pull off the best first dance music th...
at easily becomes the most lasting memory from the event. Leo was professional throughoitrhe process and took ample time to understand the proceedings for the event and asked all the right questions to plan his performance around. Highly recommended.Â
John S
5.0
9/30/2025
Amazing! Hired Leo for our wedding and he was phenomenal. My whole family was impressed and even cried to his beautiful playing. Super responsible and on time. Thanks again Leo!Â
Steven N
5.0
9/28/2025
Leonard was absolutely incredible and truly made our wedding unforgettable. He played beautifully during the church ceremony, set the perfect vibe for cocktail hour, and then broug...
ht the party to life by joining the DJ at the reception. He kept the energy going all night, and our guests couldnât stop complimenting the violinâit was the detail everyone is still talking about. Having Leonard there was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding!
Fania D
5.0
9/23/2025
I highly recommend Leonard. His violin performance at our wedding was truly breathtaking, leaving all our guests in awe and moving to the music.
Leonard was not only incredibly ta...
lented but also highly professional. He was prompt in responding to our questions and concerns, easy to communicate with, and arrived early on our wedding day to prepare. His performance was seamless and added an unforgettable touch to our celebration.
Best,
Fania
Uzoamaka E
5.0
9/19/2025
I had a great experience with Leo at my wedding! He played the violin during my wedding ceremony and cocktail hour. He is very talented and my wedding guests absolutely loved him! ...
I would definitely book him again.
Molly F
5.0
9/11/2025
Truly made our ceremony so beautiful! Guests are raving that Leonard was one of their favorite parts of the day! Was so easy to work with, extremely talented, and fun!
Arianna L
5.0
9/07/2025
Leo was amazing. He made our proposal so special. He was also at our party and everyone loved him. He played all night. Would 100 percent recommend him and book him for another par...
ty.
Kristen H
5.0
9/04/2025
We were absolutely thrilled with Leonard at our wedding! From the moment guests arrived, his music set the perfect toneâelegant, romantic, and full of life. He played each piece be...
autifully, and so many of our friends and family couldnât stop raving about how much the live violin elevated the whole atmosphere. Communication before the wedding was easy and professional, and on the day, he exceeded every expectation. If youâre looking for a talented, reliable, and truly gifted musician to make your wedding unforgettable, we canât recommend Leonard highly enough!
Dayana G
5.0
8/29/2025
Leonard simply exceeded our expectations, from the details of each entrance of the ceremony, the timing of songs and point of entrance, we had multiple calls to review and confirm ...
that everything is in place, thanks to him as we never even considered these details and sure it made a HUGE DIFFERENCE.
Everyone was interested in our violinist as he was highly complimented by everyone.
I canât thank you enough for making our vision come to life much more than we expected
Paul G
5.0
8/29/2025
Leonard is an extremely talented entertainer and performer, our wedding reception was a hit, him and our DJ had all of us dancing on the dance floor and he looked like he had so mu...
ch fun doing what he does, we highly recommend him to anyone looking for a next level and modern violinist
Jennifer C
5.0
8/25/2025
Leonard was phenomenal from start to finish! He made my wedding romantic and gave it an elegant feel with his amazing talent. 10 out of 10 highly recommend.
Sylvia M
5.0
8/23/2025
Leonard has such beautiful talent. Book him for your ceremony and cocktail hour, you wonât regret it. All our guests have been raving about him. He made our day truly unforgettable...
and his professionalism is unmatched!
Stephanie M
5.0
8/18/2025
We had the pleasure of having Leonard play violin during our wedding cocktail hour, and he was absolutely incredible. His music created the perfect atmosphere. It was elegant, roma...
ntic, and lively at just the right moments. So many of our guests complimented how beautiful the violin sounded and how much it elevated the entire experience. Leonard was professional, talented, and such a joy to work with. We are so grateful he was part of our day and would highly recommend him to anyone looking to add a special touch to their event
Response from Leonard-Violin Show on 08/21/2025
Thank you Stephanie again for having me at your wedding, I had an amazing experience with ...
everybody
Andrea T
5.0
8/04/2025
Leonard is *INCREDIBLE!* Everyone was blown away. I am so happy he blessed my wedding night with his beautiful talent and entertainment. He absolutely loves the crowd and they love...
him back! So romantic and fun. He even collaborated with a pianist that I also wanted there and they made the night just so special. Iâm forever grateful and appreciative to have found Leonard and have him play for my special night! â¤ď¸â¤ď¸â¤ď¸â¤ď¸
Response from Leonard-Violin Show on 08/21/2025
I am so happy how this turned out to be, the pianist that I never met before and we blende...
d in so perfectly together , the ballroom show was amazing and I had an absolute blast performing .
Thank you again for allowing me to perform for such a special occasion, it will be in memories forever .
Danielle D
5.0
8/03/2025
Leonard is so talented and entertaining!! Our guests had so much fun with him during cocktail hour. Heâs very engaging and interactive with everyone!! Leonard also played during ou...
r first dance and it was truly amazing!! Highly recommend for your wedding or any event!!
10/10âď¸
Response from Leonard-Violin Show on 08/21/2025
It was an honor for me to perform at your wedding and make a lifetime memory, thank you ag...
ain
Sumreen I
5.0
7/28/2025
Leonard far exceeded our expectations. From cocktail hour to the end of the night, he kept everyone entertained and captivated. Weâve received numerous compliments on our violinist...
, with guests requesting his contact information. He made our first dance not only memorable but also enchanting. Our wedding blended American and Pakistani traditions, and Leonard effortlessly adapted to the rhythm and played along. He actively engaged with guests, mingling and interacting with everyone. My husband had always wanted a violinist, and Iâm thrilled that I was able to make it happen by choosing Leonard!
Calista B
5.0
7/21/2025
Absolutely amazing!! When dreaming of getting married, I always knew I wanted a violinist. Iâm so happy I found Leonard and his extreme talent to transform our wedding to my dream!...
We had a vision of a few different songs that were so special to us for our ceremony and he absolutely executed our vision! A true professional! Thank you so much Leo, you made my wedding dreams come true!
Mariah R
5.0
7/14/2025
Thank you so much for making the day so memorable! You have such a beautiful talent and everyone was so impressed with having you! So many of our friends are getting married and en...
gaged and are already asking for your contact information so I'll be passing that along to all of them!
Ryan S
5.0
7/05/2025
Leonard was easily the best part of our cocktail hour. He does an amazing performance on the violin and knows hows to engage with our guest. He is still being raved about. 10/10 re...
commend!
Gina G
5.0
7/05/2025
We had the absolute pleasure of having Leonard as our violinist on our wedding day, and he truly exceeded every expectation! From the moment he began playing, Leonard brought an in...
credible energy and joy that was simply contagious. Not only was his talent undeniable, but the way he moved throughout the venue and engaged with our guests was something weâll never forget. He didnât just play musicâhe created an experience. Our guests were dancing, smiling, and completely immersed in the moment. Thank you Leonard!!!!!
Dyonna P
5.0
6/29/2025
Amazing during the booking process and did an amazing job. We were so happy with him! Highly recommend!
Katherine G
5.0
6/28/2025
We could not be more thrilled with our decision to book this incredible violinist for our wedding! From the very beginning, he was professional, punctual, extremely responsive, and...
so understanding of our needs. He even went above and beyond by providing a mic for our officiant, which made the entire ceremony run smoothly.
His performance was nothing short of magicalâour guests were absolutely raving about him! Many were astounded by the beauty and emotion he brought to the day. His music added such an elegant and unforgettable touch from welcoming our guests as they arrived and throughout the entire ceremony.
I truly believe no wedding is complete without him. He elevated the entire experience and created moments weâll never forget. I am so glad we chose him and I absolutely plan to use his services again for future events. Highly, highly recommended!
Bukola F
5.0
6/23/2025
I donât think I can express how amazing Leonard was at my wedding! All my guests loved him and he made my wedding magical! He also went above and beyond to make sure my guests were...
entertained even before we got to the venue. He is the best!!!
Response from Leonard-Violin Show on 08/22/2025
Thank you so much Bukola, it was truly magical the entire wedding .
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