William Whedbee – Violin Maker

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 like Scarpini, Bulfari, Conia, and Morassi. After graduation, Whedbee came back to Chicago to join William Harris Lee’s studio.

While working for Lee, Whedbee personally constructed hundreds of string instruments and became a teacher for the next generation of violin makers, including Tetsuo Matsuda, Gary Garavaglia, Bernardo Gutterman, and Michael Darnton. Whedbee continued studying Baroque Italian instruments and applying his observations in his own work. This in-depth understanding of Cremonese lutherie is the secret to his instruments’ exceptional tone.

In 1992, Whedbee opened his own workshop. Based out of Chicago’s North Side, he has developed an international reputation for making great-sounding string instruments; his violas and cellos are especially sought after. Lucky Chicago residents can catch Whedbee playing violin with his traditional Louisiana Cajun dance band, the Chicago Cajun Aces.