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WRTI is proud to highlight the accomplishments of young artists in our local communities. You can donate here to champion and support WRTI's education initiatives! Learn more about what inspires and motivates these musicians through the interviews in this series.

WRTI Young Artist Spotlight: Violinist Danae Truxler

Violinist Danae Truxler
Alexey Alexandrov
Violinist Danae Truxler

Danae Truxler is a 16-year-old violinist from Suffolk, VA, currently residing in Coatesville, PA. She began playing the violin at age six and chose it because it can play such high notes. She continues to play because she enjoys the music she creates.

In eighth grade, she was accepted into Temple Music Prep’s Center for Gifted Young Musicians (CGYM) and participated in the All-City Orchestra Summer Academy at the Mann Center.

In 2022, she began studying with Mitchell Newman and was accepted into the Philadelphia Music Alliance for Youth (PMAY) Artists’ Initiative. In 2023, Danae was awarded a Dreamer Instrument Access Program grant from the Black Violin Foundation and participated in The Credo Festival at Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio. In the summer of 2024, she was accepted into the Sphinx Performance Academy at The Juilliard School of Music. She was the gold medalist of the NAACP Philadelphia Branch’s 2024 ACT-SO competition in the Instrumental-Classical category.

She is a member of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra and Temple Music Prep’s Center for Gifted Young Musicians Youth Chamber Orchestra. Danae hopes to become an accomplished chamber musician with a group that performs and travels often. Her favorite pastimes are singing, reading, photography, cooking, and playing her violin.


10 Questions with Danae Truxler:

1. What inspires you?

I am inspired by creation, my parents, my family, and children I see at my church.

2. What was your dream job as a little kid?

My dream job when I was a kid had nothing to do with music. I wanted to be like my dad, who is a computer programmer.

3. What was an experience with a teacher or peer that was impactful to you in your music education?

I was attending a summer camp and things were not going well that day (and some days are like that). I sat down, trying to pull myself together, and one of the counselors spoke with me. She encouraged me to keep going, and on that particular day, her words really impacted me. She shared that she noticed my leadership skills and how those skills would help me in my life. Even though we were at music camp, her words about other aspects of me as a person - and not just a musician - helped boost my spirits. I think this is a moment I will always remember because the words made me feel more confident in myself.

4. What are you currently reading?

I am currently reading J.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. It’s one of my favorite fantasy novels, and currently I am doing a deep analysis with my English class on different connections it has to World War One and Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

5. What’s your favorite thing about Philadelphia?

My favorite thing about Philly are the lights around Christmas time that I see in Center City every Saturday after I get out of rehearsal at Temple Music Prep.

Violinist Danae Truxler
Najib Wong
Violinist Danae Truxler

6. What type of ensembles do you enjoy playing and why?

I enjoy chamber music groups and orchestras the most because playing with people in a small group, where everyone knows their part to perfection and everyone has a say in what the piece should sound like, is way more enjoyable to me than solo or symphony orchestra. To me, it’s more important that everyone has a voice and works their hardest so that the music can really come to life and be more than just noise.

7. Do you have any hidden talents?

One hidden talent I have is cooking. I love looking online for different recipes, and seeing the art that goes into cooking inspires me to try some techniques myself at home. Right now I’m experimenting with different types of rice bowls.

8. What advice would you give your 9-year-old self?

The advice I would give to a 9-year-old me would be to practice because it will be worth it and to never say no to any opportunity, even if it’s uncomfortable or scary or you think you’re unprepared or unqualified. You’re more than enough, and it takes time to be confident.

9. What did you enjoy most about taking part in the Sphinx Performance Academy?

I enjoyed meeting the people there, because we all grew to become like a family. First, all of the faculty and counselors, particularly Mariela Lemus, Patricia Weitzel, and Ana Abrantes, were very kind to me, and whenever something was challenging me, their counsel was invaluable. Getting to know my fellow attendees - now friends - relieved some of the stress of being in a new situation, and the encouragement they provided lifted me when I felt unsure of myself. The level of musicianship was exceptional, and I learned so much by watching and listening carefully in every learning experience. The community we all built together was one of the best I’ve experienced.

10. Who have been the greatest champions of your career so far?

My parents, my teacher, my friends, and my extended family.

Danae's Recommended Playlist:

Lydia Veilleux has worked in music education and arts administration for the past 20 years, and has taught students of all ages in various community settings. As WRTI's Education & Outreach Manager, she oversees educational partnerships, sponsorships, events, and coverage.