Newark School of Violin Making
RAB Award 2022: In his application this year Sebastiano requested financial support to go on the BVMA set up course. The RAB Trust were happy to provide full funding for this.
RAB Award 2021:
Sebastiano was awarded funding for strings + a work placement with Philip Ihle.
With the help of his friend Merrit he could hear his cello, and this is what he wrote about his award:
I am so happy I can finally hear my instruments! Thanks to the financial help I received last year I managed to purchase some sets of strings that I wouldn’t otherwise have been able to afford, and so, with some additional work, like the pegs I turned, my viola, cello and two violins are now singing!I also greatly appreciated the time and effort Philip Ihle put in having me at his workshop, an experience that was very rich even if short, due to unfortunate circumstances. The two intense days I spent there in his company and that of his assistant Mathieu, saw me opening up a violin they made in the last year and re-thicknessing the back and ribs: a completely new concept to me. I also learned relatively a lot about arching,and some pre-varnishing techniques that I have already applied to my second cello. Thank you both for your kindness and time, I really appreciated that!And thanks a lot for making all this possible, RAB Trust!
RAB Award 2020:
Sebastiano was awarded funding for a bending iron, plane iron and a Strad poster.
In lieu of work placements awarded this year, the RAB Trust have awarded extra funding for tools to help working at home.
He writes:
“I am so glad I had the opportunity to upgrade my Stanley plane with a Ray Iles blade. Now I can make good shavings for hours after sharpening! The poster will inspire me making instruments that work but that also look interesting and full of little funny details. And the bending iron is of course a basic tool to have at home, especially during summers and lockdowns. Thank you so much RAB Trust!”
