Our Teachers
Jonathan Traines- Director
Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass
​Jon Traines began Playing violin at the age of 4 with his mother; a Suzuki violin teacher, trainer and director of the Wayne-Westland School district Suzuki program. He continued his studies with Morris Edley and Mel Kaulfman of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and in college at Wayne State with Mischa Mischakoff; Concertmaster of the NBC orchestra under Toscanini and the DSO under Paul Paray. Jon performed with the Interlochen Junior High and Senior High Orchestras, Detroit Symphony, as Concertmaster of the Westland Symphony Orchestra and at Carnegie Hall with his two boys who play violin and viola as well. Jon is Suzuki certified receiving training from Jeri Arnold, Wendy Azrac, Rebecca Sandrok (who studied with Dr. Suzuki) and Mark Mutter.
Jacob Traines- Assistant Director
Viola, Violin, Clarinet, Saxophone, Guitar
Jacob Traines is a Graduate of Wayne State University with a major in Music Education and was a violist in the Wayne State University Orchestra. Jacob is currently the director of orchestras at Farmington High School. He began playing violin at Suzuki Royal Oak when he was 5 years old. In fourth grade, he took up clarinet in the Ferndale Schools. By junior high school, he was playing saxophone in the jazz band and was also playing viola. Jacob consistently received Ones at MSBOA Solo and Ensemble. He currently has 37 blue ribbon medals!
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Jacob was the clarinet section leader in the Ferndale High School Golden Eagle Marching Band. He is the violist in the Sherman String Quartet. He has participated in both MSBOA District 4 Honors Band on clarinet and All-State on viola. Jacob was eligible to participate in the Michigan Youth Arts Festival on both clarinet AND viola. He toured Ireland and performed at Christchurch in Dublin. He has also performed at Carnegie Hall in New York with his brother and father. Jacob is also an Eagle Scout with Troop 1542.
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David Traines
Violin, Viola, French Horn, Trumpet, Beginning Piano
David Traines is a Wayne State graduate with a Masters in Theory and Composition. David plays Violin, Viola, Trumpet, French Horn, Baritone, Tuba, and Piano. He likes to teach all of them, including theory and ear training.
He started playing violin at Suzuki Royal Oak when he was 4 years old. David wanted to play percussion in 3rd grade but his dad (Jon Traines) said it would be too loud. So a trumpet was the next best thing! Just like his brother, Jacob Traines and woodwind instruments, he started to conquer the brass family. Being in ensembles such as SRO Camerata, All-State for 5 years on Viola and Violin, MSBOA District 4 honors band for 4 years on French Horn, and Michigan Youth Arts for 3 years on Viola. He marched mellophone for five years and was the Section Leader for the Ferndale Golden Eagle Marching Band. David also earned a perfect score on his Proficiency 2 Viola Solo at MSBOA State Solo and Ensemble. David has performed in many prestigious places such as Carnegie Hall in Manhattan, Peterhof Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia, many churches in Estonia, and the Edsel Ford House here in Detroit. He is a professional pit musician and performed in such shows as Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mary Poppins, Once Upon a Mattress, and many others.
Along with his performances, he has composed many pieces. The Bel Canto Choral Society will be a performing the world premiere of his arrangement of “Evening of Roses” in June 2018. He arranged and composed many pieces for the Sherman String Quartet, of which he is a founding member. He has done many arrangements for the Ferndale High School choirs, orchestras and pit. David enjoys building computers and playing video games in his free time, and also achieved his Eagle Scout with Troop 1542.
David wants to do everything possible in music and works hard for those opportunities!