Shaina's Strings

Shaina Graff began playing the violin at age three and music has been an integral part of her life ever since. Her studies have included various methods first beginning as a Suzuki student. Suzuki instructors include John Kendall and more recently Teacher Training from Ronda Cole, Kimberly Meier-Sims, Cathryn Lee, and Linda Fiore. She pursued a Bachelors and Masters degree in Music Performance at Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduating with honors under Hungarian Professor Michael Barta. Further individual studies with violinists around the world include Timothy Shiu, David Kim, and Geza Koposh. She was honored chamber music coaching with Cavani String Quartet and Kodaly String Quartet. During her studies, she appeared as concertmaster and soloist with the Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra, as well as performed with the Chamber Music Society and Altgeld Chamber Players.
Shaina has been director of her own studio, Shaina's Strings Studio, which has been providing violin and viola lessons to aspiring musicians of all ages for over a decade. Her students are involved in community events, orchestras, performances, competitions, and have gone on to receive scholarships at the university level. Seeking to spread the enjoyment and passion for music to all, Shaina's Strings Students enjoy playing music of all genres with the fundamentals and technique to take them to unlimited possibilities. Shaina is a member of the Suzuki Association of America and String Teachers Association.
As a professional, Shaina performs with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Paducah Symphony Orchestra, Bangor Symphony, concertmaster for Mozart Mentors Orchestra, and principle 2nd Violin for Maine State Ballet Nutcracker Orchestra. Other performances include Chicago Chamber Orchestra, Union Avenue Opera, Tulsa Opera Co., Tulsa Symphony Orchestra, Winter Opera St. Louis, Illinois Chamber Orchestra, Fayetteville Symphony, Southeast Missouri Symphony, and the Southern Illinois Summer Music Festival Orchestra. Additionally to orchestral settings, Shaina is active in various performing styles and settings. In addition to educating and performing, Shaina is extremely passionate about chamber music. She served as vice president of the Southern Illinois Chamber Music Society and for over a decade as a violinist of the Chautauqua String Ensemble. She desires to create more opportunities for musicians and to enhance the musical connection with the community through chamber music.
Shaina has always been drawn to Maine and after visiting she fell in love with the state and the people. Shaina looks forward to making a positive valuable impact on musicians and music lovers of all ages. She treasures the role she partakes in each violinist's educational life and looks forward to unlimited possibilities to come.
Music is the Alchemy of Life.