Cremonese luthier Andrea Guarneri (1623-1698) holds a special place in music history as both the founder of the Guarneri lutherie dynasty and a champion of the Amati violin-making tradition. Guarneri apprenticed under Nicolò Amati in two distinct periods: 1641-1646 and 1650-1654. The two makers worked together so closely that some of their violins are indistinguishable …
Giovanni Battista Ceruti Luthier Giovanni Battista Ceruti (1756-1817) helped ensure the survival of the Cremonese violin-making tradition. However, he came to lutherie relatively late and likely did not start violin-making until at least his mid-thirties. For this reason, not much is known of Ceruti’s apprenticeship, but he likely studied under local makers like Alessandro Maggi, …
Giovanni Battista Ceruti – Violin Maker (1756-1817) Read More »
Lorenzo Storioni Lorenzo Storioni (1744-1816) played a pivotal role in preserving Cremona’s violin-making tradition. Born the same year as Guarneri del Gesù’s death, Storioni seems to have felt a personal connection with the master, crafting many instruments inspired by Guarneri’s models. His workshop provided a training ground for Giovanni Battista Ceruti and Giovanni Rota, who …
Charles Jean-Baptiste Collin-Mézin père Mirecourt-born luthier Charles Jean-Baptiste Collin-Mézin père (1841-1923) apprenticed under his father, Claude-Nicole Collin. Collin-Mézin’s early career saw him leaving his hometown for other ventures, including working in Paris (1858-1861) and at his father’s former employer, Nicholas François Vuillaume’s, Brussels workshop (1862-1864); however, he maintained a connection to Mirecourt and returned periodically. …
Charles Jean-Baptiste Collin-Mézin père Violin Maker (1841-1923) Read More »
For over three decades, Isabelle Wilbaux has been making violins, violas and cellos that are renowned for their power, warmth and beauty of tone. Her instruments are currently played by some of the world’s most distinguished musicians, including the Trio Fibonacci, violinist Laura Andriani and cellist David Ellis of the Alcan Quartet. Born in Tournai, …
Nicolas François Vuillaume The younger brother of Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, luthier Nicolas François Vuillaume (1802-1876), received his early training under his father, Claude-François Vuillaume, in the family’s Mirecourt workshop. In 1824, Vuillaume traveled to Paris to work with his brother, and four years later, he established his own atelier in Brussels. There, Vuillaume enjoyed considerable success …
Nicolas François Vuillaume – Violin Maker (1802-1876) Read More »
Archetier Paul S.J. Goh entered the string instrument community as a performer and educator. He earned a degree in music from the Nanyang Technology University with first class honors before going on to teach music and physics at the Hwa Chong Institution. There, he conducted the string orchestra, which received a gold award from the …
William Forster III (1764-1824) was born into a London-based luthier dynasty. He apprenticed under his father, William Forster II, from a young age and completed his first violin at the age of 15. Forster later attempted to diversify the family business, including a foray into selling fresh produce, but the Forster name remains most closely …
Thomas Kennedy The son of British luthier John Kennedy, Thomas Kennedy (1784-1870) received early instruction from his father before apprenticing under Thomas Powell. He went on to work for William Forster III for two years before opening up his own London workshop in 1804. Originally located in the West End, Kennedy would move multiple times …
Originally from Hawaii, William Whedbee found his home in Chicago when he moved to attend college. While enrolled at the University of Chicago, mentorship from sculptor Virginio Ferrari and musicologist Howard Brown helped Whedbee discover a passion for violin making. In 1976, he enrolled in Cremona’s famed Institute of Violin Making, studying under legendary luthiers …
