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Hilary Hahn Announces Imminent Return After Spinal Surgery
Violinist Hilary Hahn announced on her social media platforms that she will "shortly return to the stage" after surgery to replace a cervical spinal disc.
Violinist Hilary Hahn. Photo by O.J. Slaughter.
Here is what she posted:
"Dear friends, colleagues, and fans,Thank you for your patience and support while I have navigated injury over the past couple of concert seasons. I am still healing in many ways, but I will shortly return to the stage!
As I’ve mentioned, I had pinched nerves that I was trying to preserve and rehabilitate. The first time one of my cervical spinal discs herniated a year and a half ago, I recovered. It was debilitating: I had muscle atrophy as well as ongoing nerve stress. It was not easy to return to performances, but it was the right choice for me, then.
This past summer, that same disc herniated again; it compressed nearly all of my remaining nerve space. It was immediately clear that I needed to pursue more aggressive treatment. Thanks to a phenomenal surgeon (who used to play the violin!), I am now the proud owner of an artificial disc. My career has a future again, my neck has healthier alignment than before, and I am pain free.
Surgery brings longer-term recovery consequences, and of course one can’t know the future. The prognosis is really good, and I’m grateful to the medical professionals who made this possible. The fact that my quality of life has returned is something I will never take for granted. At this point, I’m working on getting my strength and micro-coordination back while allowing the nerves to get their bearings again.
You may notice me wearing scarves from time to time; I have a surgical scar on my neck that I want to protect while healing, both in daily life and onstage. Maybe it’s a style I’ll keep around for a while!
Much love and appreciation to all of you,
Hilary
We wish Hilary a healthy and full recovery, and we are looking forward to her return to the concert stage!
You might also like:
- Violinist.com interview with Hilary Hahn: In 27 Pieces, the Hilary Hahn Encores
- Interview with Hilary Hahn: 100 Years of the Ysaÿe Sonatas
- Hilary Hahn Cancels Performances Through November Due to Injury
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Replies
Yay Hilary! Congratulations.
Thank you for sharing!
Grand News from Hilary Hahn Returning to The Concert Stage {#4} Elisabeth Matesky {Joyful for Hilary Hahn from myself {Veteran Concert Violin}
I am crying Tears of Utter Joy for the Wondrous Violinist, Hilary Hahn!!! I had been deeply sad & concerned about her forced cancelling of Concerts two years prior and when it was disclosed she had a nerve in her neck injury my instinct told me it was most serious Then. As we have all been keenly observing the missing presence of Hilary Hahn also having created a huge vacuum in the Concert Violin World I can now share that about 3 months prior I was having a very serious in depth conversation with one of Europe's Greatest String Playing Artists working in Germany who wrote about the extraordinary Artist's musical/technical gifts of Ms Hahn ending with: "What more can I say about one of the Greatest Living Violinists in The World?!" As an "Apostle" of Jascha Heifetz and Nathan Milstein, the GOAT's of Violin Artistry and of many Centuries IMO, I second my Colleague's words and Marvel Artist Hilary Hahn Violinist's Words here on Violinist.com, and Then Some with true Joy Hilary Hahn has found a Surgeon of Ingenious gifts who was a violinist having operated on the spine of One of the All Time Greatest Violinists and Thank God in Heaven for having the Gifts of Rare Medical Skill with surely, Love, to reconfigure the spine of beloved Hilary Hahn for whom Life itself must have stopped minus any Colour of Joy while living with such a severe burden unable to perform or practice during her long Trevail and borne most bravely and with inner Grit plus Hope and Faith never ending ...
Thank You's to Laurie Niles for announcing this Grand News which has brought I am sure Tears of Joy to Millions now learning about the Renewal and Healing from Major Surgery to Bring 'our' Hilary Hahn Back! Today, Sunday, 8th of February, 2026, is a truly Joyful Great Violinist News Day!!!
~ Sending H.H. Joyful Wishes from Chicago with Love ~
............... Elisabeth Matesky ...............
Fwd ~ dmg SAVE Book EM V.com {Reply #4} Hilary Hahn Concerts Return
That's good news for the music world!
Congratulations, dear Hilary Hahn. I am extremely happy to hear of your come-back to the worlds stages. Keep on enjoying us with your fine art of playing the violin. I am honored having had a single chance to listen to you live in a concert, before I became deaf some years ago. Which means for me, that I shall not be able to listen to your 27 short works ever. That is a great loss in my life, as you may imagine. I was maximum interested in all these pieces, because I played (just) 6 works of very new composers (that time: 1993) for viola solo on a CD. I have had similar impressions while working and playing them as you have communicated with Laurie Niles in the wonderful interview about your production. Yes, it was highly interesting to me reading YOUR experiences.
All the best to you for your future from Saarbruecken/Germany,
Eckart Schloifer, violist, violinist, conductor
Wonderful. congrats! No fun playing in pain. i am so glad that the world will continue to hear you live! and to your health and happiness! youtube.com/chinkimviolinist
I think we still need to keep our fingers crossed for Hilary's recovery. Cervical root compression can have consequences such as sensory loss and motor weakness that take a long time to recover.
Thank god she is coming back and is ok.
@Steve Jones of Violinist.com ~ As from, Elisabeth Matesky, 'Apostle' of both my Epic Violin Mentor's, Jascha Heifetz & Nathan Milstein, {10}
Although upsetting, your words of caution are very wise and it is to be seriously considered to Wait and See, after a Medical Reasonable Period of Time following such involved Surgery and by an obvious caring and beyond adept Surgeon who as Ms Hahn states played the Violin ... All Said, in my inner thoughts I had a similar thought to what you have expressed and it might be best to defer offering our own none surgeon opinions from here on in until close to final tallies are in ... And I am positive all on here and throughout the Concert World of Violin echo the same sentiments ...We are All and collectively pulling for Hilary Hahn to Return in Fine Form and with Joy Playing to her will be even more vast Concert Audiences!
I truly hope all will be most well and a medical musical Miracle can be declared and possibly used in further Research into this area of Medicine to help many other people suffering from similar ill's but hopefully Not String Players holding Violins and Violas under their chins ...
A Word: @Chin Kim! Nice to see you here CK. Yes, We are Praying for H.H. and for a medically declared Medical 'Miracle' Healing of One of the Greatest Living Violinists in The World Return ... EM x
~ ~ ~ Best Wishes to you, Mr. Jones ~ ~ ~
........... Elisabeth Matesky ...........
Fwd ~ dmg Save Book File Reply {10} EM 9.2.2026
{#11} Caring About Colleague@Eckart Schloifer, in Saarbruecken, Germany, As from ~ Elisabeth Matesky Heifetz Pupil with JH Violin Master Class Film-Khachaturian on YT from American Violinist knowing much about GOAT Hearing Doctor, cum Pioneer in Advanced Hearing Loss delicate surgeries which changed Lives headed for 100% 'Aural Darkness', *Dr. Howard P. House, of Los Angeles, Founder of the Ear Surgeries, 1st titled "Fenestration" {Open Window} to be later followed with Dr. House's other miracle surgeries, his own Stapes Mobilization Surgery learning of the Great Dr. Howard P. House Int'l Medical influence when in Zurich, playing in the Tonhalle for my known of Violinist Recital Debut, due my hearing tiny muted after flying from London to Zurich to perform & so stuffed up=Cold, Concert Manager sent me to a Dr. Luigius Riudi of Zurch, eminent Colleague of Dr. Howard P. House, and while waiting in a luxurious Office in Zurich Older Town, I viewed his huge wall filled with Photographs autographed by fabled Kings; Queens; Hollywood Film Stars and even HRH Princess Grace, yet in the Middle was a Photograph of our family friend/Saviour of a Family Member's Hearing, *Dr. Howard P. House & whom I recognised immediately and when Dr. Riudi came into his Office shaking hands knowing I was to offer my US Violinist Debut in Zurich's Tonhalle, asked How I knew Dr. Howard P. House? I was delighted to share a True Success Story due Dr. Howard P. House's ingenious both Ear Surgeries performed Thrice with 2 Stapes Mobilization Surgeries on One Ear and 1 on the other bringing up very severe hearing loss many many decibels Up for a Family Member to then suddenly after over Twenty Years, "Hear" saying to Dr. House's first words on the OR Table, "Can you hear me Now?" to Family Member's joyful "Yes! But it is Too Loud!" My Point, Mr. Schloifer, is/was the dramatic Pioneer in Ear Surgery had cured almost all hearing loss of the musician Family Member from over a Twenty Five Yr 'Aural Night' of Not hearing with a loving spouse lip reading when the Family Member so stricken for Twenty Five Years was interviewed for the Profession and on the Podium for a long time relying solely on the spouse to interpret and answer without much fuss via the public and not drawing attention to the coping then with serious disability to a rarely ever imagined Return to Hearing Health ...
An Idea just occurred to me to share this with You having read of your hearing being declared 'Deaf' ... If per chance you wish to further explore a Second or Third Opinion about all of this which is obviously hurting your Soul and abilities to again Hear Hilary Hahn in the 27 Pieces you so wish You Could Hear yet Now resigned to Never Again Hear, kindly respond back to me and I will give you my Contact Info to correspond via Email and if truly interested give you an Option you may not have previously known of or about?? I truly Understand your utter frustration not being able to Hear such Grand Music and sort of resigned to Live with not only a hearing handicap but an emotional Soul and Heart Handicap which is far more upsetting and an indictment of All You So Love most from your prior Hearing Okay Life ... I do not interfere/inquire with those I do not know yet this seems timely for reasons unknown to myself so it would be cruel to not at least mention knowing of great advances in the World of Research in Hearing which might and just might change your diagnosis of being 'Deaf' and I presume for the rest of your musician life? ...
Please do reach out and I will put you In Touch if you are interested, with the House Clinic in LA just recently moved to Wilshire Blvd in West LA and with a Son of now late Dr. Howard P. House who was still practising Medicine at aged 94 when one day he was 'Called Home' so dedicated to All his many grateful Worshipping Patient's including a much loved Musician Family Member who praised Dr. Howard P. House in a Reader Digest Article he wrote titled "Can You Hear Me Now?" to grand success of the Article and Medical Progress Miracles of Dr. Howard P. House, and greatly revered in All Europe by Dr. Luigius Riudi prior having Invited the Great Dr. Howard P. House to honour their European Annual Hearing Conference in Zurich in the late Sixties! A Word: Dr. Riudi and I became good 'buddies' and he attended my violin recital debut in Zurich with my hearing made all better due a severe cold and with Bells On!
I rarely reach out on a public website but Your Love of the Viola and the Violin and All Things Strings touched me and I thought to myself after being on the Telephone to reschedule an Audio High Hearing Test for my partner just hours ago, this strange coincidence was maybe a Nudge from Above! You can read quite a bit about my Concert Violin Performing & Teaching International Career of many decades here on the Violinist.com Profile under Performer/Teacher in *Chicago under Teachers! Just click it on my name here and take about 10 minutes to read then if interested in learning more about The House Clinic in Los Angeles, CA, Email me which is obtainable if browsing through closing EM Information re future London Teaching and Sharing about both my Mentors, JH and NM!!
~ Sending you The Very Best of Wishes from America ~
............... Elisabeth Matesky ...............
Fwd ~ dmg Save EM Reply to Eckart Schloifer. Violist Hearing Help House Clinic if RSVP {#11}
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February 8, 2026 at 01:11 PM · Pain free! Good for her! And all of us who enjoy listening to her.