Elayne Ras

by Catherine M | Sep 20, 2026 | Strings, 2nd violins | 0 comments

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Elayne began Suzuki violin lessons at age 11 at the first Suzuki school in Toronto, after taking piano lessons with since age 5. Degrees in Music Performance & Psychology from the University of Western Ontario followed, and she became a Suzuki violin Teacher Trainer in 2002. She also has been a clinician and adjudicator for numerous Suzuki workshops and institutes in Canada and the US.
Elayne freelances around Southwestern Ontario, and toured China as a member of the Ontario Festival Symphony Orchestra in 2012. She completed a Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology in 2018.
In over 25 years in Goderich she taught violin and conducted the local community band. Locally, she taught with SSSG for 14 years, including 12 years as conductor of beginning orchestras. Now teaching violin and viola privately in Guelph, and part-time with ESM in Etobicoke.

What inspired you to pick up your instrument for the first time, and how has your journey evolved since then?
I had the opportunity to try violin in grade 5 at school in Toronto, loved it from the start, and begged for lessons! Luckily for me there was a teacher just a block away from us, so I started lessons the following year and never looked back!

Can you share a memorable performance moment that still resonates with you today?
Probably the most memorable was playing with my students in a quartet for a wedding that started at 6AM!! We started at 5:30AM when the sun was just coming up, and it was a magical experience.

What role does collaboration play in your musical life, and how has it enriched your experiences?
There is nothing quite like playing in ensembles and orchestras! Especially as a 2nd violin in the middle of the orchestra, where there is wonderful sound enveloping us on all sides.

Besides your musical career, what other passions or occupations do you pursue?
I have always enjoyed "living history" at pioneer villages, and I have visited/worked at/volunteered at quite a few, where my specialties are the early skills of spinning, dyeing wool, and candle making.

What is the best thing about being a member of Guelph Symphony?
The community aspect of not only playing, but performing for the audiences, and collaborating with the conductor and guest artists. I freelance quite a bit, which is also wonderful, but there is something special in being a core member of the GSO and participating in almost every event!

https://www.elayneras.ca

Elayne Ras

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