ArtistDirect News
Violinist Leonid Fleishaker Publishes Music Vs. Parkinsons and Hosts Library Talk in Estero
When a violinist’s bow trembles, the music doesn’t have to.
Seventy‑year‑old Leonid Fleishaker, a former concertmaster and the founder of the concert‑booking agency World Touring, has just released his self‑published memoir Music Vs. Parkinson’s. The book, available on Amazon, details his battle with the neurodegenerative disease and the ways in which his lifelong musical training has helped him manage symptoms. To celebrate the launch, Fleishaker will host a free presentation and signing on September 30 at the South County Regional Library in Estero, Florida.
Fleishaker’s journey began in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) where he received a violin from his parents at age six. He went on to study at the Manhattan School of Music, worked as a freelance violinist in New York during the 1980s, and served as concertmaster for a leading chamber ensemble. In 1987 he became programming director for a Manhattan music‑management company, and three years later founded World Touring, an agency that has booked concerts for orchestras and soloists worldwide. After moving to Estero in 2015, he continued arranging tours, including a 2023 U.S. tour for the Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine.
During his performing career, Fleishaker appeared with orchestras across Europe, South America, and the United States, and collaborated with renowned soloists and ballet companies. His agency’s global reach has positioned him as a key figure in classical concert promotion, securing engagements for ensembles such as the Lviv National Philharmonic.
In 2019, after years of tremors, stiffness, and balance problems that had begun four years earlier, Fleishaker received a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. He described the news as a shock, noting that the disease’s gradual progression mirrored the slow, disciplined practice required of a musician. The discipline, rhythm, and patience honed through years of violin study, he said, have helped him adapt to the motor challenges posed by Parkinson’s, allowing him to maintain a routine of physical activity and to manage fatigue and tremors.
Although he no longer plays the violin, Fleishaker remains active in his community. He plays pickleball each morning and bowls on weekends—activities he says counteract slowness and stiffness. He also listens to classical‑music radio throughout the day, finding that music keeps him focused and provides a sense of rhythm that assists with walking. In Music Vs. Parkinson’s, he emphasizes that music can serve as a therapeutic tool for Parkinson’s patients, encouraging others to incorporate rhythm and disciplined practice into their daily lives.
The 47‑page paperback, priced at $12, was written in October 2025 and released in April 2026. A Kindle edition costs $5 or is available free with Kindle Unlimited. Fleishaker will discuss the book and sign copies from 2‑3 p.m. on Wednesday, September 30, at the South County Regional Library. Admission is free, and registration opens on August 30. The event is intended to raise awareness of Parkinson’s disease and to share his experience with a broader audience.
Fleishaker’s story illustrates how a lifelong commitment to music can provide practical tools for coping with a progressive neurological disorder. His book and public engagement offer a perspective that blends personal experience with the therapeutic potential of music for Parkinson’s patients.
Seventy‑year‑old Leonid Fleishaker, a former concertmaster and the founder of the concert‑booking agency World Touring, has just released his self‑published memoir Music Vs. Parkinson’s. The book, available on Amazon, details his battle with the neurodegenerative disease and the ways in which his lifelong musical training has helped him manage symptoms. To celebrate the launch, Fleishaker will host a free presentation and signing on September 30 at the South County Regional Library in Estero, Florida.
Fleishaker’s journey began in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) where he received a violin from his parents at age six. He went on to study at the Manhattan School of Music, worked as a freelance violinist in New York during the 1980s, and served as concertmaster for a leading chamber ensemble. In 1987 he became programming director for a Manhattan music‑management company, and three years later founded World Touring, an agency that has booked concerts for orchestras and soloists worldwide. After moving to Estero in 2015, he continued arranging tours, including a 2023 U.S. tour for the Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine.
During his performing career, Fleishaker appeared with orchestras across Europe, South America, and the United States, and collaborated with renowned soloists and ballet companies. His agency’s global reach has positioned him as a key figure in classical concert promotion, securing engagements for ensembles such as the Lviv National Philharmonic.
In 2019, after years of tremors, stiffness, and balance problems that had begun four years earlier, Fleishaker received a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. He described the news as a shock, noting that the disease’s gradual progression mirrored the slow, disciplined practice required of a musician. The discipline, rhythm, and patience honed through years of violin study, he said, have helped him adapt to the motor challenges posed by Parkinson’s, allowing him to maintain a routine of physical activity and to manage fatigue and tremors.
Although he no longer plays the violin, Fleishaker remains active in his community. He plays pickleball each morning and bowls on weekends—activities he says counteract slowness and stiffness. He also listens to classical‑music radio throughout the day, finding that music keeps him focused and provides a sense of rhythm that assists with walking. In Music Vs. Parkinson’s, he emphasizes that music can serve as a therapeutic tool for Parkinson’s patients, encouraging others to incorporate rhythm and disciplined practice into their daily lives.
The 47‑page paperback, priced at $12, was written in October 2025 and released in April 2026. A Kindle edition costs $5 or is available free with Kindle Unlimited. Fleishaker will discuss the book and sign copies from 2‑3 p.m. on Wednesday, September 30, at the South County Regional Library. Admission is free, and registration opens on August 30. The event is intended to raise awareness of Parkinson’s disease and to share his experience with a broader audience.
Fleishaker’s story illustrates how a lifelong commitment to music can provide practical tools for coping with a progressive neurological disorder. His book and public engagement offer a perspective that blends personal experience with the therapeutic potential of music for Parkinson’s patients.