Marilyn Wallin 15 ⅞"

sku Product SKU:  23268

Marilyn Wallin is one of the key figures in American violin making. After receiving a degree in viola performance, she studied violin making with Tschu Ho Lee at the Chicago School of Violin Making, graduating in 1985. Since then she has had a very successful career, wining numerous awards at international competitions. She has also been the president of the Violin Society of America. This viola has an exceptionally fine tone. It is very easy to play, very responsive with that full, even, robust viola tone that so many violists are looking for.

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Douglas Cox 15 ½"

sku Product SKU:  23596

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Miska (Max) Frirsz II, 17"

sku Product SKU:  23634

Max Frirsz studied with his father Max Senior in Budapest. After a number of years in his own Budapest workshop, he moved to Canada in 1956 and to New York in 1958. He is especially well known for his violas. This viola was made for a long time member of the San Francisco Symphony who used it as his primary instrument for most of his career.

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Alfeo Batelli 16 ½”

sku Product SKU:  23768

Born in Sienna, Italy in 1903, Alfeo Batelli studied with Valentino De Zorzi in Florence. He worked with Paoletti Vezio before establishing his own workshop in Florence. He emigrated to Chicago in 1947 working with Kagan & Gaines.  Two years later he moved to Los Angeles and spent the next thirteen years with Hans Weishaar where so many of the best west coast makers perfected their skills. He established his own shop in 1963. He became one of the most important and respected makers on the West Coast.

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Silvio Levaggi 16 ⅜"

sku Product SKU:  20022

One of the finest luthiers working in Cremona today, Levaggi’s instruments are respected for their perfect workmanship and elegant tonal qualities. Before setting up his own workshop in the historic center of Cremona in 2001, he graduated from the Cremona School of Lutherie in 1984 where he studied with Vincenzo Bissolotti, among others. He then worked in Genoa with Carlson-Cacciatori-Neumann’s. He has won countless international prizes over the course of his career, and continues perfecting his craft. This viola was made with special wood from Jay Ifshin’s large stock, and was hand selected by Ifshin and Levaggi for aesthetic beauty and sonorous qualities. It is has a quick response and a smooth, sonorous tone.

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Caesar Castelli 16 ½"

sku Product SKU:  15613

A student of Constantine Celani and Giuseppe Ornati, Castelli won over a dozen prizes before passing away in 2003 at the age of 91. He worked in his native Ascoli Piceno, making over 200 violins, 70 violas, and 30 cellos. His workmanship is of the highest quality. This viola has a strong, rich tone and is very responsive.

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Bernard Simon Fendt II 15 ¾”

sku Product SKU:  23339

Bernard Fendt was one of the premiere violin makers of London in the 19^th century. After training with his father, he worked with a number of makers before setting up on his own. He is especially noted for the elegance of his workmanship, especially in the superb varnish work with its elegant antiquing. The sound is powerful and smooth, with a quick even response, even on all four strings. The sound is remarkable especially given its manageable size. Included with this viola is a letter from W.E.Hill & Sons London.

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Leopold Renaudin 15 ½”

sku Product SKU:  24232

This fascinating luthier had an interesting but sadly brief career. Born in Saint-Remy near Mirecourt, Renaudin went to Paris at age 16, doing his apprenticeship there rather than in his native Mirecourt. He was appointed luthier to the Paris Conservatory and is known to have made a cello for Luigi Boccherini. He was a victim of the French Revolution in 1795.

While the body of this viola is only 15 ½ inches and very comfortable to play, it has a wonderful big sound that one would associate with a much bigger instrument that projects well and is a joy to play. This wonderful viola is in remarkable condition for an almost 250 year old viola in that there are no cracks!  Formerly in The Millant collection.

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David Caron 16 3/8”

sku Product SKU:  23757

Born and raised in Chicago, David came from a very musical family and began studying the cello at a young age. After High School,  he began working at Kagan & Gaines in Chicago and spent several years working with Franz Kinberg , one of the best makers  of the mid twentieth Century who created especially fine violas. He then worked with a partner at a shop in Champaign-Urbana. In 1971he set up his own workshop in Dallas. In 1989, tiring of big city life, he moved to Taos, New Mexico.  

This exceptional viola has a big rich lovely sound but with a fine crisp responsive quality.

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