Born and raised in Ashland, OR, Shaina began classical violin studies at the age of 5 with Kendra Law, and continued with Russian master, Faina Podolnaya. Her early summers often included performing with her father’s bands and fiddling at bluegrass festivals and camps. At the age of 18, she moved to California to attend the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. There she studied under the tutelage of accomplished violinist, Mr. Wei He, and earned her Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance
Upon graduating, and inspired by her generation’s force in the lively pulse of the San Francisco music scene, Shaina began branching out stylistically. Currently in demand as a national and international performer, she plays everything from classical to funk, hip-hop to rock and performs often with DJ.
In 2012, she toured internationally with the fiddle band Barrage, and currently tours with William Close & the Earth Harp Collective. When she’s home in the Bay Area, she leads the Jazz Mafia string section, as well as her own trio and string quartets, a hip hop band called GOLDEN ARROW and plays with San Francisco’s Magik*Magik Orchestra.
When not on stage, Shaina can be found hiding away in her home studio recording and writing string arrangements, often digitally creating what she calls “The Shaina Symphony.” Recent recording credits include Beats Antique A Thousand Faces Part II, The Grouch & Eligh The Tortoise & The Crow, Latyrx The Second Album, Nick Greer and the G’s Heart on Fire… and some exciting top secret music from Blackalicious!
Shaina has worked with maestros Michael Tilson-Thomas, Andrew Mogralia, Donald Runnicles, Michael Morgan, and members of the Cavani, Turtle Island, and Avalon String Quartets. In addition, and on a slightly different note, she has performed with Third Eye Blind, David Grisman, Chicago, Lyrics Born, Geographer, Macy Gray, the Dodos, DJ Qbert, Deltron, Liz Phair, Zion-I, Crown City Rockers, and Chali 2na. Highlights of her performance career include appearances at venues The 2015 Super Bowl, Carnegie Hall & Davies Symphony Hall, and featured sets at the Montreal & Playboy Jazz Festivals.
She is also a highly sought after violin teacher who is on faculty at the San Domenico School and runs her own private violin studio. Shaina is rained in the Suzuki Method, Mark O’Conner Method, Dalcroze and Alexander Techniques. A certified yoga instructor, as well as a professional aerialist, Shaina is known for helping her students discover their potential through full-body musicianship.
