/ Paul Sonner and a student during the 2019 Interlochen Violin Institute For decades, violinist Paul Sonner has gotten up at 3 a.m. to practice his instrument for several hours before his day of teaching at Interlochen Arts Academy begins. He practices for several hours each night after he gets home, too. "That's how you get to be a teacher at Interlochen and the concertmaster of two orchestras," he says. Sonner is retiring from his job as instructor of violin at Interlochen this month, a role he's held for over 20 years. He plans to maintain his roles as concertmaster of the Traverse Symphony Orchestra and the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra, but "just as long as I can be a leader and play my parts well."