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Every musician has a musical journey, and every instrument tells a story.
At the beginning you will struggle through the challenges of learning technique and finger placement to make screeching strings turn into the simplest songs. Eventually you will look back and realize that your musical journey has weaved its way into all the moments of your life to become part of who you are.
Day Violins is a small family-owned business that has watched thousands of students, including our own children, discover music. Will you allow us to be part of your story?
In 1994, two young fresh-faced kids fell in love, Jenna and Jason Day of Day Violins. The next thirteen years brought college degrees, a variety of job experiences, moves and many changes including four little maestro’s of their very own. And then one fateful day in June they decided to start Day Violins as a family-owned and operated premiere string shop in Northern Virginia.
Who better to serve budding beginner or long-time accomplished musicians than a family that intimately knows that world?
There are three great passions in Jason’s life. His family, his violin, and football. Jason was born into a family of professional musicians who had a violin in his hands by age 4. A naturally talented musician he played all through his school years, participated in youth symphonic groups such as the American Youth Philharmonic while simultaneously proving himself on the football field with two state championships during high school.
Jason decided to make music his profession and headed off to college to earn his degree in Music Performance. After college, he decided to pursue his Suzuki Method training and turned to music education, teaching in the private sector and school systems for 25 years.
“Talent is universal, opportunity is not.”
Jenna also grew up in a musical family. Singing, playing instruments of all sorts, and dance parties were a regular part of her childhood. As an accomplished pianist, Jenna used her talents to accompany many students in recitals and performances, including her high school choir. Despite her love of the arts, Jenna’s educational path led her to social work and advocacy.
Jenna’s work with underprivileged populations has led Day Violins to work toward every child being able to afford the an opportunity to have music in their lives. She fulfills that with music advocacy and is a strong supporter of Instruments in the Attic which delivers refurbished instruments to children around the world. She serves on the Board of DC Strings Workshop, which provides music to neighborhoods in the Washington DC area that might not normally have access to concerts and lessons.
We are a company that demonstrates a deep passion for music, advocates for musical education and provides the highest quality of customer service. As a strong family-owned community-minded small business, you can count on Day Violins to help every child follow their musical journey and provide the tools and services that will bring the joy of music into their lives.
Lesson Program Coordinator
Finance Manager
Warehouse Manager
Bow Maker & Restorer Day Violins Repair Shop Manager
Bow Specialist
Luthier
Luthier
Luthier
Aaron Mynes is a string specialist with Fairfax County Public Schools, currently in his twenty-first year as Director of Orchestras at Chantilly High School. Under his direction, the orchestra program grew from one orchestra of 38 students to 144 students in four orchestras. The Chantilly High School Orchestras regularly receive superior ratings at VBODA District XII Orchestra Festival, and superior ratings and first place honors at competitive festivals.
Bruno Nasta graduated from James Madison University with a Music Performance degree.
He was a member of the Richmond Symphony Orchestra and Richmond Chamber Players in residence at the Virginia Museum of fine Arts. Celebrities that top the extensive list he has performed with and/or convened orchestras.
Charlotte Day holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Flute Performance from the University of California Santa Barbara, and completed a Master’s Degree in Flute Performance for Northwestern University. She has been a member of the Santa Barbara and Utah Symphonies, and is a contract performer in the Washington D.C. area. Charlotte is a certified teacher of the Suzuki Flute Method and was trained by Toshio Takahashi, the creator of the repertoire.
A graduate of Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax County, Cynthia (Cindy) Crumb received her Bachelor of Music Education with a violin concentration from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and her Master of Music in Performance and Literature on violin from the University of Notre Dame.
Charlotte Day holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Flute Performance from the University of California Santa Barbara, and completed a Master’s Degree in Flute Performance for Northwestern University. She has been a member of the Santa Barbara and Utah Symphonies, and is a contract performer in the Washington D.C. area. Charlotte is a certified teacher of the Suzuki Flute Method and was trained by Toshio Takahashi, the creator of the repertoire.
Deborah Milan Brudvig studied Cello Performance at the University of Michigan, received a B. Mus. in Cello Performance from Boston University and a M. Mus. in Cello Performance from the University of Maryland.
She has served as principal cellist for the Washington Concert Opera as well as principal and section cellist for orchestras at the National Cathedral, Kennedy Center and Wolf Trap.
Jason Day is an accomplished musician, instructor, and orchestra leader.
He began playing the violin at age of four and was immediately recognized as a gifted musician. As his skills developed, Jason became a member of the American Youth Philharmonic and was a National Symphony Youth Fellow. His talent recognized, Jason began studying under private instruction with Peter Haase and William Haroutounian, both of the National Symphony.
Jennifer Himes has an active freelance and teaching career in metropolitan Washington, D.C., where she performs with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, the Wolf Trap Opera Orchestra, and the Maryland Lyric Opera
Orchestra. She has performed for the inaugurations of four Presidents and performers such as Justin Bieber, Andrea Bocelli, Aretha Franklin, Josh Groban, Stevie Wonder, Miranda Lambert, and many more. Her television credits include Christmas in Washington, Celebration at Ford’s Theatre, and Garth Brooks: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize on PBS.
Nathi “JR” Jeerakul, a Northern Virginia native, has taught private viola and violin lessons in the Northern Virginia/Washington D.C. area since 2012, and has been with Day Violins since 2017 as rental staff, a supervisor, and a teacher. JR has earned an Associates of Applied Arts in Music as well as an Associates of Science in General Studies from Northern Virginia Community College.
Presently, he is attending George Mason University (GMU) in pursuit of a Bachelor of Music with a concentration in Music Education and a minor in String Pedagogy. He is the current president and former vice president of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) chapter at GMU. JR studies viola with Professor Philippe Chao and pedagogy with Professor June Huang.
Matthew Gattuso, a Northern VA performer and teacher, works as a freelance musician and performs on viola , violin and piano in a variety of opportunities. He is the Principal Second Violin with the Piedmont Symphony orchestra, has performed with the National String Symphonia and Reston Chorale, the acting violist for theAtoka String Quartet, worked with St. Charles String Quartet, Mason Music Productions, and as a chamber musician for weddings and events.
Classical violinist, Nusheen Farahani, received her Bachelor’s Degree in Violin Performance from the University of South Carolina under the instruction of Dr. William Terwilliger.
She performed as a substitute violinist with the South Carolina Philharmonic, Symphony Orchestra Augusta, the Aiken Symphony, the Brevard Philharmonic, Long Bay Symphony, and the Spartanburg Philharmonic.
Patty is a Northern Virginia native with a Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance from the Eastman School of Music, and a Master of Music degree in Viola Performance from Rice University, the Shepherd School of Music. Since 1994, Ms. Plombon has created and maintained a private viola studio and currently resides in Manassas, VA.
Shaun Jurek is a professional upright bass player and music educator. He graduated with honors from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Composition. Since then he has been performing professionally and teaching throughout the Northern Virginia/Washington, D.C. area.
Steven is a graduate of Brigham Young University in viola performance. He is a retired member of the United States Army Orchestra where he served as principal violist and group leader. He has been the principal violist of the Amadeus Orchestra and currently is a member of the Virginia Chamber Orchestra.
Get 10% off your first purchase by joining our mailing list,
and receive some of the best deals possible.
Aaron Mynes is a string specialist with Fairfax County Public Schools, currently in his twenty-first year as Director of Orchestras at Chantilly High School. Under his direction, the orchestra program grew from one orchestra of 38 students to 144 students in four orchestras. The Chantilly High School Orchestras regularly receive superior ratings at VBODA District XII Orchestra Festival, and superior ratings and first place honors at competitive festivals.
Mr. Mynes graduated as a National Merit Scholar from Governor Thomas Johnson High School in Frederick Maryland. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the Eastman School of Music. At Eastman, Mr. Mynes studied stringed instrument education under Dr. Louis Bergonzi and the double bass with James Van Demark. Mr. Mynes continued his double bass studies at Duquesne University with Jeffrey Turner, principal double bassist of the Pittsburgh Symphony.
Bruno Nasta graduated from James Madison University with a Music Performance degree. He was a member of the Richmond Symphony Orchestra and Richmond Chamber Players in residence at the Virginia Museum of fine Arts, The Roxbury Chamber Players and Associate Concertmaster of the Baltimore Opera.
Celebrities that top the extensive list he has performed with and/or convened orchestras for include; The Three Tenors, Three Irish Tenors, 3 Mo Tenors, Luciano Pavarotti, The Who, The Moody Blues, Yes, Gloria Estafan, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, Lyle Lovett, Denyce Graves, Josh Groban, John Denver, Paul Potts, Liza Minnelli and Eva Cassidy.
Mr. Nasta has recorded for the Intersound Label as Concertmaster of The Taliesan Orchestra. These recordings received a #1 position on Billboard’s record ratings for three weeks in the summer of 1997 for the classical crossover category as well as several recordings that have been nominated for Grammy’s in 1998.
He is a featured soloist on Eva Cassidy’s multi-platinum selling recordings “Imagine” and “American Tune”.
His improvisatory violin solos are featured on Kathy Fink/Marcy Marxter’s Grammy winning recording “Bon Apetite” and in 2003, received a “wammie” award by the Washington Area Music Association (WAMA) for best classical Instrumentalist.
In 1998, he was appointed as Personnel Director of the National Gallery Orchestra and in 2002, Assistant to the National Gallery of Art’s music department. Mr. Nasta’s personal recordings and the recordings of the NGO’s live Sunday night performances have been featured nationally on NPR’s Performance Today, NPR News and on various musical presentations of Washington’s local public radio broadcast station WETA.
In the spring of 2008, he was appointed the Program Coordinator and Master of Ceremonies for the Friday evening “Jazz in the Garden” summer concert series at the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden.
Currently, Bruno maintains a vigorous freelancing schedule, actively recording and performing in the Symphony, Opera and Theater circuits of Greater Washington DC and Baltimore areas. Musical performance credits for film include “Crazy like a Fox”, and the documentary “Yoo-hoo Mrs. Goldberg”.
Charlotte Day holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Flute Performance from the University of California Santa Barbara, and completed a Master’s Degree in Flute Performance for Northwestern University. She has been a member of the Santa Barbara and Utah Symphonies, and is a contract performer in the Washington D.C. area. Charlotte is a certified teacher of the Suzuki Flute Method and was trained by Toshio Takahashi, the creator of the repertoire.
Charlotte has been teaching with great success in the Washington D.C. area for 30 years and has had the honor of having her students chosen to play in District Bands, Regional orchestras, All-State Orchestras, All-State Bands, and the National Symphony Youth Fellowship Program.
Classical violinist, Nusheen Farahani, received her Bachelor’s Degree in Violin Performance from the University of South Carolina under the instruction of Dr. William Terwilliger.
She performed as a substitute violinist with the South Carolina Philharmonic, Symphony Orchestra Augusta, the Aiken Symphony, the Brevard Philharmonic, Long Bay Symphony, and the Spartanburg Philharmonic. Additionally, Nusheen was chosen to perform and teach in the Bahamas for outreach concerts as a member of the distinguished Resonance String Quartet. She has attended summer programs abroad in Italy, Luxembourg, and Germany to further her chamber music skills.
Nusheen performs with a Persian group, the Delnava Ensemble, which is based in Northern Virginia. More recently, she has come to appreciate the Celtic style, studying with Alistair Fraser and Natalie Haas at the Isle of Skye Fiddle Camp in Scotland. Soon after the camp, Nusheen won second place in the Scottish Fiddling Competition at the Charleston Scottish Games.
Crystal has been teaching for five years in the Loudoun, Fairfax, and Prince William County area. She has taught both privately, and in the Franklin Summer Strings Camp.
In high school, she was principal cellist in District 11 Honors Orchestra, as well as the recipient of the Instrumental Medallion, presented to her by the music department of Centreville High School.
Crystal’s orchestral experience includes playing with the Capitol Youth Orchestra, The Fairfax Youth Orchestra, The American Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic, and the Manassas Symphony Orchestra.
Deborah Milan Brudvig studied Cello Performance at the University of Michigan, received a B. Mus. in Cello Performance from Boston University and a M. Mus. in Cello Performance from the University of Maryland.
She has served as principal cellist for the Washington Concert Opera as well as principal and section cellist for orchestras at the National Cathedral, Kennedy Center and Wolf Trap. Deborah has also performed in chamber concerts at The Smithsonian, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the Phillips Collection. She has played in pit orchestras for Ford’s Theatre, the Shakespeare Theatre, Signature Theatre and National Theatre. Deborah performed for Arena Stage in 17 productions over 25 years.
Deborah has written and published a book, 40 Etudes in the First Position for the Intermediate Cellist. Her main musical focus now is teaching.In addition to teaching at Day Violins, Deborah is currently an Adjunct Instructor of Music at the Northern Virginia Community College, Alexandria and a faculty member at the Washington Conservatory of Music.
Jason Day is an accomplished musician, instructor, and orchestra leader.
He began playing the violin at age of four and was immediately recognized as a gifted musician. As his skills developed, Jason became a member of the American Youth Philharmonic and was a National Symphony Youth Fellow. His talent recognized, Jason began studying under private instruction with Peter Haase and William Haroutounian, both of the National Symphony.
After high school, Jason continued his music studies at Kent State University with nationally recognized violinist, Marcia Ferritto. He won numerous solo competitions and graduated from Kent State University with a Violin Performance degree. After graduating, he completed his Suzuki Teacher training with Rhonda Cole.
Jason is actively involved in the Washington D.C. area music teaching community. He served as the Assistant Principal Second in the Fairfax Symphony for several years. He played in the Alexandria Symphony, McLean Symphony and the Washington Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra and has performed at both the Kennedy Center and the White House.
Jason worked as the Orchestra Director in the Fairfax County School system then joined Flint Hill Private School in Oakton, Virginia, and spent 14 years as the middle and upper school Orchestra Director. He was an Orchestra Instructor at the Franklin Music Camp, and has consistently maintained a private studio of over 30 students. He left his position at Flint Hill in mid-2015 so that he could devote himself full-time to Day Violins.
Jason comes from a musical family. His father, a violist, played in the United States Army Strings for 30 years and currently teaches violin and viola in a private studio. His mother played flute in the Utah Symphony for many years, and also maintains a private flute studio. His two sisters, a cellist and a flutist, teach orchestra and band in Fairfax County and are also private instructors. They are all members of the Day Family Chamber Players, a highly sought-after chamber group that performs on a regular basis in the Washington DC metropolitan area.
Jason Day is the father of four children, all musicians. His wife, Jenna, is also active in musical endeavors. Jason is passionate about his work. His character and integrity have earned him respect among his peers and fellow professionals. His reputation for providing quality instruments to the schools has made an impact on teachers and students alike. Teachers from all over Loudoun, Fairfax, Prince William and Arlington Counties recommend Day Violins to their students.
A recent highlight to Jason’s career was being asked to play a 1709 Stradivarius in a private concert. To a violinist, this instrument represents the highest standard of quality and perfection. Jason was impressed with the reverence this instrument commanded as a rare and valuable piece of musical history. This unique experience has strengthened Jason’s desire to pursue his musical passions, both in performing and providing services to the community through Day Violins.
Jennifer Himes has an active freelance and teaching career in metropolitan Washington, D.C., where she performs with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, the Wolf Trap Opera Orchestra, and the Maryland Lyric Opera
Orchestra. She has performed for the inaugurations of four Presidents and performers such as Justin Bieber, Andrea Bocelli, Aretha Franklin, Josh Groban, Stevie Wonder, Miranda Lambert, and many more. Her television credits include Christmas in Washington, Celebration at Ford’s Theatre, and Garth Brooks: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize on PBS.
Ms. Himes retired from Fairfax County Public Schools as an educational specialist in the fine arts office. She managed the summer arts enrichment programs, Institute for the Arts, and Elementary Institute for the Arts. She also administered the annual fourth-grade field trip to the Kennedy Center for the National Symphony Orchestra’s Young People’s Concerts and many K-12 cross-curricular projects for fine arts. Ms. Himes began her career teaching elementary strings.
Ms. Himes received a Bachelor of Music in violin performance from the University of Kansas, a Diploma of Merit from the University of London, National Centre for Orchestra Studies, and a Master of Arts in arts management from the American University. In her spare time, Ms. Himes volunteers for community and animal rescue organizations, and she loves to travel. She lives with two foster cats, Pounce and Darryl.
Nathi “JR” Jeerakul, a Northern Virginia native, has taught private viola and violin lessons in the Northern Virginia/Washington D.C. area since 2012 and has been with Day Violins since 2017 as rental staff, a supervisor, and a teacher. JR has earned an Associates of Applied Arts in Music as well as an Associates of Science in General Studies from Northern Virginia Community College. Presently, he is attending George Mason University (GMU) in pursuit of a Bachelor of Music with a concentration in Music Education and a minor in String Pedagogy. He is the current president and former vice president of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) chapter at GMU. JR studies viola with Professor Philippe Chao and pedagogy with Professor June Huang.
Being in high demand as a teacher, JR has performed numerous long- and short-term jobs as a substitute with Fairfax County Public Schools. As a teacher with FCPS, he teaches all grade levels and different fields of music such as strings, band, music composition and technology, piano, guitar, and general music. JR frequently works as a sectional coach for violin and viola and has been involved with several string education projects with Fairfax County, Loudoun County and Manassas Park City Schools. He also works as a viola and chamber coach with local summer camps, like Franklin Band and Strings. While heavily involved with the music education community, JR also enjoys performing with local symphonies and chamber groups whenever possible.
Matthew Gattuso, a Northern VA performer and teacher, works as a freelance musician and performs on viola , violin and piano in a variety of opportunities. He is the Principal Second Violin with the Piedmont Symphony orchestra, has performed with the National String Symphonia, Reston Chorale, Washington Young Symphonia, Kennedy String Quartet, and as a chamber musician for various weddings and events.
Matthew received his BA in music from the College of William and Mary with concentrations in piano performance and composition. He completed a full-length piano and composition recital in the spring of 2011.
Mr. Gattuso began teaching strings privately in the Fall of 2012 and was a founding member of the Crossroads Youth Orchestra in Culpeper, VA as well as acting assistant conductor for the inaugural season. In December of 2015, he completed his Masters in Strings Pedagogy from George Mason University.
Mr. Gattuso would like to share the following words about his teaching philosophy:
Healing, Power, and Compassion through music:
I believe in the power of sound. The journey of learning an instrument is a singular process. It merges many skills, mental, physical and emotional. It provides an opportunity for self discovery and to ask questions about what is meaningful to us. In performance, there is the privilege to express that which inspires, moves, and sustains us. Not all of those things have words, but they all have sound.
In sharing music we give something of ourself to others. That process is healing. It is restorative. It binds us with the melody and harmony of community. The pulse of our lives becomes more synchronized when we can recognize and reflect on what we all share as humans. That sharing is beautiful and inspires compassion.
In the initial stages of learning, it is necessary to spend large quantities of time in teaching and in practice on physical posture and technique. The practicing of physical motions, hand eye coordination, mental preparation and problem solving challenge us and make us more critical thinkers.
These things are the foundations that allow us to then freely express music. That music then empowers self confidence and the esteem of knowing you have created something that is truly yours. When we choose to share that with others it transcends boundaries of mine or yours, and becomes “ours”, an expression of our collective humanity. That music which we share honestly and with humility truly is the gift that keeps on giving.
Classical violinist, Nusheen Farahani, received her Bachelor’s Degree in Violin Performance from the University of South Carolina under the instruction of Dr. William Terwilliger.
She performed as a substitute violinist with the South Carolina Philharmonic, Symphony Orchestra Augusta, the Aiken Symphony, the Brevard Philharmonic, Long Bay Symphony, and the Spartanburg Philharmonic. Additionally, Nusheen was chosen to perform and teach in the Bahamas for outreach concerts as a member of the distinguished Resonance String Quartet. She has attended summer programs abroad in Italy, Luxembourg, and Germany to further her chamber music skills.
Nusheen performs with a Persian group, the Delnava Ensemble, which is based in Northern Virginia. More recently, she has come to appreciate the Celtic style, studying with Alistair Fraser and Natalie Haas at the Isle of Skye Fiddle Camp in Scotland. Soon after the camp, Nusheen won second place in the Scottish Fiddling Competition at the Charleston Scottish Games.
Steven is a graduate of Brigham Young University in viola performance. He is a retired member of the United States Army Orchestra where he served as principal violist and group leader. He has been the principal violist of the Amadeus Orchestra and currently is a member of the Virginia Chamber Orchestra.
Steven currently teaches viola and violin in the Alexandria area and is a member of the Day Family Chamber Players.
Rest assured that Day Violins has the highest quality of customer service and a generous referral credit rental program for upgrading your instrument as your child grows and improves in their musical abilities.
We are so excited to take this journey with you.