Our Instructors | Learning Trade Secrets

Several of our instructors have returned to teach workshops that were canceled due to COVID, while others are active with the VSA and fulfilling their elected duties for the upcoming convention and next year's international competition. For those students whose classes were canceled we hope you will be the first to jump back on the band wagon. Our classes will be smaller so please check the site often for updates and registration in late October. Thank you for your continued support.

Our instructors have spent decades learning the fine art of making and restoring stringed family instruments and bows. Some have entered the field through playing, while others from various technical fields. All are accomplished artists in their own right and many are award-winning makers, some having received recognition in competitions with the distinction of Hors' Concours from the Violin Society of America. This is an important honor received after having earned three gold medals in VSA International Competitions. This qualifies the honoree to judge competitions making them an excellent resource for information. We hope to pass their extensive knowledge and experience to the next generation of makers and restorers through demonstrations, instruction, and professional example.

Because our instructors are so active in industry organizations it may be necessary for them to bow out for a season or two. We hope you will continue to check the website for their workshops.

Tom Croen

Tom Croen is an award-winning violin maker working from his studio in Eugene, Oregon. He has been actively making instruments for nearly 40 years and is a member of the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers and the Violin Society of America, where he has served on the Governing Board of both organizations. Tom has earned the distinction of 'Hors Concours' after having won 3 gold medals from Violin Society of America International Competitions. Tom stays challenged and inspired by being a workmanship judge at VSA competitions and writing publications on the subject of instrument acoustics and other aspects about the craft of violin making and repair.

Christopher Dungey

Christopher Dungey

Christopher Dungey is a violin maker specializing in the new making of cellos, passing the milestone 100th cello in 2012. He has worked in Los Angeles for Hans Weisshaar and Thomas Metzler learning the fine art of restoration. He is a current member of the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers and has won numerous awards for his cellos. In 2012, Mr. and Mrs. Dungey relocated to Grand Junction, Colorado. He continues to build cellos in his 'dream shop' that was completed in July 2013. His new shop has a view looking towards the Colorado National Monument.

David H. Forbes

David H. Forbes

David Forbes is an award-winning bow maker with two gold medals from the Violin Society International Competitions, and numerous Certificates of Merit from VSA competitions, the City of Paris competition and Manchester Cello festival. David trained with William Salchow in New York and Stephane Thomachot in Paris. David is a member of the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers and served on its Board of Governors. David has been the Director of the Oberlin Bow Making Workshops since 2005.

Chris Germain

Christopher Germain

Christopher Germain makes award-winning violins, violas, and cellos from his studio in Philadelphia, PA. Chris has served as the President of the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers as well as the Violin Society of America and has served on the Governing Boards of both organizations. He also is a member of the Entente Internationale Maitres Luthiers et Archetiers d'Art and has served as a judge for numerous international violin making competitions.

Rodney D. Mohr

Rodney Mohr has been actively making bows for over 35 years and is a member of the American Federation of Violin & Bow Makers, where he earned the degree of Master of Bow Making. Mr. Mohr has produced over 1,000 bows, making him one of the nation's most prolific bow makers. As one of the country's leading restorers, Mr. Mohr also has restored a countless number of fine bows. Mr. Mohr holds the distinction of Hors' Concours by the VSA along with numerous other Certificates of Merit and a medal from the City of Paris Competition.

David Orlin

David Orlin works out of his studio in Ann Arbor Michigan. He was elected into membership of the American Federation of Violin & Bow Makers in 1996. David has participated in the Violin Society of America's Oberlin Bow Maker's Workshop and is currently a Co-director of the VSA Oberlin Bow Restoration Workshop. He has taught bow repair and restoration at the National String Workshops in Madison, Wisconsin since 1993, and has exhibited and presented at conventions of the AFVBM, VSA, and ASTA. He also lectures frequently about bows and has contributed articles for publication.

William Scott

William (Bill) Scott is a violin maker working in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He earned Hors Concours in 2006, with his 3rd Gold Medal for a viola at the Violin Society of America's International Violin Making Competition. In addition to these awards, he has won numerous other medals and certificates for violin, viola, and cello. Bill began his apprenticeship at the shop of Hans Weisshaar in Los Angeles. He has contributed to Strad Magazine, VSA Conventions as a presenter and as a workmanship judge. Over the past decade, he has been on staff at the Violin Makers Workshop in Oberlin, Ohio and is currently the President of the Violin Society of America.

Stacey Styles

Stacey Styles has worked independently as a restorer of violins, violas, and cellos since 1995. She is located in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Ms. Styles particularly likes a challenging restoration project but also enjoys the balance and insight afforded by working directly with musicians in fine adjustments for tone and performance. Ms. Styles credits Hans J. Nebel, with whom she studied for many years, for instilling a high standard of excellence in restoration, and a deep appreciation for a finely honed edge.

Christopher Ulbricht

Christopher Ulbricht

Chris is a founding partner of Indianapolis Violins, a full-service violin shop in Indianapolis, where in addition to his own making he manages the repair workshop and rental fleet. He enjoys participating in educational and outreach activities, including collaborating with the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis, Indiana History Center and Indiana State Museum to create exhibits related to violin making. He has taught long- and short-term apprenticeships focusing on various topics, from varnish application and set-up to instrument building from the ground up.

Sophia Vettori

Sofia Vettori is keeping and sharing the legacy of 90 years of Italian violin making tradition. The Vettori family tradition beganin 1935, in Tuscany, Italy when Sofia's grandfather Dario I Vettori decide to become a violin maker. After having lived with "secrets" as a common attitude in the field of instrument making, she wanted to make a difference by sharing her talents and knowledge. After 25 years of making instruments she has developed a unique method of varnishing that involves many different techniques taken from different inspiration and influences.