Will Haapaniemi

viola

Born in Los Angeles, Will Haapaniemi discovered his love for the violin at the age of 2, inspired by Itzhak Perlman’s performance on Sesame Street. From that early spark, his path was clear, though his time was also divided between passions such as Capoeira, dance, and training for his glider pilot license.

He credits much of his development to the guidance of his teachers. Yoko Takebe and Michael Gilbert of the New York Philharmonic, whom he studied with at the Manhattan School of Music, played a pivotal role in shaping his musicianship. During high school, he learned much from his teacher, the soloist Mark Kaplan, while also being the recipient of a scholarship to study with the legendary Ruggiero Ricci in Palm Springs. Will’s parents, cousin Paul Roby of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and his aunt were essential in supporting him throughout his journey.

In 2014, Will joined the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, performing alongside his wife, violinist Heidi Han. He remains active as a soloist with orchestras and as a chamber musician, frequently performing on both violin and viola. Outside of his musical life, Will loves the outdoors, spending his free time hiking, rock climbing, flying small planes, and skiing in the winter.