The VSA/Oberlin program will have two restoration workshops in the summer of 2010, one for instruments and one for bows. These are one week long, run at the same time, and are across the hall from each other in the same building, making it convenient for participants in either one to learn a little about the other. The VSA/Oberlin programs take place at Oberlin College, Oberlin Ohio, near Cleveland.
Oberlin was originally an instrument restoration workshop, and we're reviving this, recognizing that repair and restoration is how most "violin makers" will actually make their living.
Dates for the 2010 workshops: Sunday June 27 (arrive) through Saturday July 3 (depart)
Participants for both workshops will be selected based partly on prior experience, ability to contribute to the overall learning experience of all participants, and available space. Contact information for each workshop is at the bottom of the individual "staff" sections.
Are the teachers any good? Please scroll to the bottom for some "before and after" pictures of work done by the staff.
This page will be periodically revised with more complete information and updates, so please check back. (last updated 11/19/09)
Staff for the Instrument Restoration Workshop:
Andrew Fairfax:
Andrew graduated with
Distinction from the Newark School of Violin Making in 1980 before going on to
work as a restorer with Joost van der Grinten in the Netherlands. For
27 years, he has been employed as a violin maker and restorer at J
& A Beare in London where he has worked on some of the finest classical
instruments. He is co-author of the book "The British Violin and The
Vollers", and has written and lectured on various aspects of violin history,
making, and restoration, both in the UK and abroad.
Rafael Carrabba:
Consistent with our policy
of having teachers with varied backgrounds, Rafael has been all over the
place. While still in high school, he apprenticed summers at
the Chicago shop of Kenneth Warren and Son. Upon completing high school, he
worked for an additional year at Warren's, and then moved to Philadelphia
to work in the shop of William Moennig. Rafael then went to London,
where he spent four years working for one of the world's most
renowned violin experts, Charles Beare. He then returned to Chicago where
he worked for Carl Becker. Rafael relocated to London once again to work for
Charles Beare for an addional four years, then finally settled back in his
home, Seattle.
Jeffrey Holmes, co-director:
Jeffrey studied
violin making with Tschu Ho Lee at the Chicago School of Violin Making.
During school, his experience was enhanced through his employment by conservator
Dudley Greeley and violin maker Marilyn Wallin. After graduating in 1985, he
worked with David Burgess at Shar in Ann Arbor, MI, making new instruments
andperforming restoration work. During his 17 year stay at Shar,
he also worked with a number of restorers including Mark Norfleet, Jerry
Pasewicz, Oliver Radke, and Anton Smith. From 1995-2003, he served as
Vice-President of Shar Fine Instruments. In May of 2003, Jeffrey left the firm
and opened his own studio where he offers restoration, appraisal, expertise, and
sales of old and contemporary instruments and bows. Jeff is a member of the
Appraisers Association of America, serves on the Board of Directors at the
Chicago School of Violin Making, and served on the Board of Directors for the
Violin Society of America eight years. http://www.holmesviolins.com
David Burgess, director:
David was a
repairman and restorer in the Hans Weisshaar shop, and continued with
restoration activity until approximately 1991. During this time, David was
involved in the training of many individuals who have continued on to have
significant impact in the field, many of whom are now memebers of the American
Federation of Violin and Bow Makers, shop owners, independent makers, and and/or
have continued on to train others in the field. Now a full-time maker, David's
reputation is well known through his numerous awards, judging of international
violin-making competitions, and his involvement in the educational programs at
Oberlin.
Workshop description:
I envision much of
the time being spent with participants working on projects they have brought,
with teachers circulating around giving tips, answering questions, discussing
alternate ways of accomplishing a goal, and drawing the group together for a
discussion whenever something about what a participant is doing (or isn't
doing) can be expanded on in a way that is of interest to the group. This
will be supplemented with some presentations, and the hope is that the teachers
will bring some thorny projects of their own.
Tuition will be $700 for VSA members, $800 for
non-members.
Housing will be $225 for single occupancy, $200 for
double.
If you are interested in attending, please contact:
Jeffrey Holmes
email: holmesviolins@gmail.com
Phone: 734
668-6745
Questions about the course can also be answered by David Burgess.
email:
david@burgessviolins.com
(please put "violins" in the subject line)
Phone: 734 668-7803
Staff for the Bow Restoration Workshop:
Jerry Pasewicz:
Jerry made his first violin
and bow in 1978. After spending time in violin making school, working in violin
shops and owning his own shop, he was hired to direct the workshop at Shar
Products in 1988. At Shar he worked alongside multiple award-winning violinmaker
and former Weisshaar foreman David Burgess, gaining crucial experience in the
restoration of violin and bows. In 1992, armed with this experience, he was
hired as an instrument restorer at Jacques Francais Rare Violins in New York,
under the direction of renowned restorer Rene Morel. In the Francais workshop,
Jerry not only had the opportunity to work on the finest instruments and bows,
but also to work for some of the world’s finest musicians. He continued working
under the direction of Maestro Morel for two and a half years, and continued
doing work for Jacques Francais until leaving Manhattan in 1998. During his time
in New York, Jerry Pasewicz also served a bow making apprenticeship with
multiple gold medal-winning maker David Samuels. Jerry has been a participant in
the Oberlin workshops since 1997. He has been an instructor in the bow making
and restoration workshop at Oberlin since 2000, and has been on the faculty of
the instrument set up workshop from 2004-2006. He has been a presenter at The
Violin Society of America conventions, currently sits on its board of directors,
and is the chair of the International Violin and Bow Makers Competition. Jerry
has been a member of the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers since
1997, and currently serves as Vice President of this organization.
David Orlin:
After college, David was a professional
furniture maker. He began bowmaking with William Salchow at the University of
New Hampshire in the summers of 1982 and 1983. He continued traing with
David Burgess and Mark Norfleet at Shar Products from 1982-85, and then worked
for Claire Givens Violins in Minneaplis, 1985-6. He worked independently in
Madison and Seattle before returning to Ann Arbor in 1989. Orlin participated in
the VSA/Oberlin Bowmaker's Workshop in 1996, 1997 and 2000. He was elected to
membership in the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers (AFVBM) in
1996.
Orlin has taught bow repair and restoration at the National String
Workshops in Madison since 1993 and for the VSA/Oberlin bow restoration course
since 2003. He has exhibited and presented at conventions of the AFVBM, VSA and
the America String Teachers Association, and lectures frequently about bows. In
2001 he was featured on PBS Television's WNET production EGG: The Arts
show.
Specializing in restoration for over 25 years has afforded many
opportunities for in-depth study of old master bows. Orlin's own bow models
include historical patterns from Baroque and Classical through 19th Century
inspired designs.Related activities include researching alternative bow woods,
sculpting, and playing for contra dances.
Rodney Mohr:
Rodney graduated from the
Kenneth Warren and Son School of Violin Making (now known as the Chicago School
of Violin Making) in 1982. After graduation Rodney worked for John Norwood Lee
in Chicago. In 1985 Rodney and his wife Ann set up their own shop, Mohr and
Mohr,and reside in Ashland, Ohio where he primarily makes new bows and does
major restoration. Rodney is currently a co-director of the Oberlin Bow
Restoration Workshop and has also taught at the North Bennett Street School in
Boston. He has won numerous awards for bow making including third prize at the
Paris Competition, three gold medals from past VSA competitions, and a degree of
Master in Bow Making from the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers. He
has been a member of the Board of Directors of the VSA and was past president of
the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers.
Workshop description:
Techniques of bow repair and
restoration addressed will include frog chevals; head splines; tongue grafts;
stick and frog bushings; rail replacement; head grafts; silver
replacement.
Also covered will be all aspects of bow setup, including
windings; thumb leather; camber; pearl slides; screws; eyelets; ivory tips;
rehairing.
The techniques covered will depend on the projects the
participants and instructors bring to the course. There will be many
demonstrations as well as plenty of time to work on your own or with an
instructor's guidance.
Participants are expected to bring tools, materials,
and projects for setup or restoration.
Tuition will be $650 for VSA members, $750 for
non-members.
Housing will be $225 for single occupancy, $200 for
double.
If you are interested in attending, please contact:
Jerry Pasewicz
email: bowrestoration@tristrings.com
Phone: 919 858-0429
Questions about the course can also be answered by David Orlin.
Phone:
734 663-6631
Below are some "before and after" and project pictures of work done by the staff.
New, replacement scroll for a Mantagnana violin:
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