About

Quality Craftsmanship and Fair Prices


The violin has always been the driving force in my life. I developed an intense love of the instrument early in my childhood after hearing it played through recordings. I began playing the violin at the age of eleven through the North Kansas City School system string program but was unable to seriously study it until the age of twenty-six. Since then I have studied with the late Joe Landis with the Kansas City Symphony, David Heinke who was a prominent and long standing music teacher in the North Kansas City School system, and completed my studies with Tiberius Klausner at the UMKC Conservatory. My education includes many courses through the military, an AA degree from Longview Community College, a BS degree in Business Management from Park University, and a thirteen (13) year apprenticeship with the late Wayne Trainor, of Gladstone, MO in violin construction and repair. My work career has included automobile and truck mechanics as well as recently retiring in January 31, 2003 from the Water Services Department of Kansas City, MO. I also retired as a Chief Warrant Officer Three (CW3) from the Missouri Army National Guard in January 1996 serving over twenty-two (22) years. After working with Wayne Trainor until his death in 1993, I kept up his repair business for the almost two years. I now own and operate an in-home violin repair business serving clientele from several states. I officially started Bill's Violin Shop in 1996 as a part time endeavor, but expanded to full time operation upon my retirement in 2003 from Water Services. Although having played with the Northland Symphony from 1970 until 1987, and the Philharmonia of Greater Kansas City (Park University) up to the present, my first love is playing in the church. I have soloed with the violin with different churches and directed music for a church in Smithville, MO, a church that my wife Carol and I helped to start. Presently, I am playing with the Pleasant Valley Baptist Church orchestra.