A native of Miami, Florida, Jay studied at the famous Violin Making School of America in Salt Lake City. The Salt Lake school had only recently opened when Jay arrived but many of his classmates went on to become some of the most important makers of their generation. After a brief stay in Bozeman, Montana, Jay came to Berkeley and in 1981, opened Ifshin Violins which has since become one of the most important violin shops in the country.  In addition to building Ifshin Violins into a major shop, Jay continued to make fine violins, violas and cellos throughout the 1980’s.

This fine viola is typical of the award winning instruments he made at that time.