Ani Veeraraghavan
Ani Veeraraghavan could teach us all a thing or two about balance. In addition to being an accomplished young violinist, Ani is interested in soccer, choir, writing, and theatre. She’s known for approaching each of these pursuits with the same dedication and passion and has earned her reputation as a performer who is always thorough and prepared.
Ani entered Levine’s Suzuki program in the fall of 2015, when she was five years old, and has been working with instructor Will Hurd since. Since the fourth grade, she’s cultivated a love for playing in orchestras, beginning with the American Youth Philharmonic’s American Youth Debut Orchestra (AYDO). She played with the AYDO for three years before moving up to the American Youth String Ensemble (AYSE). She also participated in the Arlington County Junior Honors Orchestra for three years, serving as the concertmaster in her final year. In 2023, Ani participated in the Levine Chamber Orchestra and as co-concertmaster of the Youth Philharmonic in the DC Youth Orchestra Program (DCYOP) member. In 2024, she will be a member of the Youth Orchestra in DCYOP.
In 2023, Ani performed as a soloist in the Marlin-Engel Competition, winning second place in the Intermediate Division. She also received honorable mentions for both the Cogen and Marlin-Engel Competitions in 2024. Ani has been a Washington Musical Pathways Initiative (WMPI) artist since 2023.
“I’ve really enjoyed having Ani in the program,” says Jamila Tekalli Hanner, Artistic Director of WMPI. “She’s very motivated, she expects a lot from herself, and she’s a very poised musician. Her professionalism is beyond her years and makes her stand out. You can tell from how she shows up on stage that she’s thought about everything for the performance; she’s always very polished and prepared.”
Ani has been described as a “go-getter,” attending as many master classes and performance classes as she can. During the summertime, Ani attended the Greater Washington Suzuki Institute for five years, between 2016 and 2022. In the summer of 2023, she attended the Pennsylvania Suzuki Institute at Moravian University. She also participated in the AYPO Summer Strings Academy for three years. During the summer of 2024, Ani participated in chamber intensives at the Intermuse International Music Institute and Festival in Maryland and at Point CounterPoint in Vermont.
As a vocal musician, she has been selected for the audition-based Arlington County Middle School Honors Chorus, District XII Honors Chorus, All-Virginia Honors Choir, and a Southern Region Honor Choir of the American Choral Directors Association. She loves musical theatre and has performed at school and in the community in productions of The Sound of Music (in the nun ensemble), Matilda (as Ms. Honey), Newsies (as Davey), and The Wizard of Oz (as Glinda), as well as in the play Anne of Green Gables (as Diana). Ani plays travel soccer for the Arlington Soccer Association as a goalkeeper, and her literature entry in the Reflections Contest won 2nd place at the state level.
“I love the performing arts! Music and theater are always the bright spots in my day, and I love giving back to the community through performance. I am so grateful for all the support and opportunities I’ve received from family and friends!” — Ani Veeraraghavan
Levine’s community portraits are a rotating showcase of students, alumni, and faculty members displayed at our Northwest DC campus. The individuals photographed are just a small sample of the many extraordinary people who make up the Levine Music community. From teachers with storied careers to students looking toward the future, their journeys are ones of determination, passion, and collaboration.