Thijs has continued to produce fine work in his final year, and the RAB Trust has awarded him funding for the strings, fittings and tools he requested, plus the Stradivari Varnish book by Peter Greiner and 2 tailpieces from Mark Wilhelm.
RAB Trust Award 2022: Thijs received funds for wood for 2 violins plus fittings and strings.
Thijs wrote this of his award:
“I was very pleased that for these two violins, I received funds to use good quality tonewood as well as fittings and strings. Quality fittings and strings are very important in setting up an instrument and can be a decisive factor when a musician takes that instrument into consideration. I would like to thank the RAB trust to enable and support students of the different violinmaking schools.”
Thijs was awarded funds for wood for 2 violins, one based on Carlo Bergonzi, and another a copy of the ‘Plowden’ Guarneri. The award also provides funding for a download of the ‘Plowden Revealed’, a project by maker Jordan Hess in collaboration with violinist Christian Fatu, including over 200 detailed photos of the Plowden violin.
Thijs writes of his award:
I was awarded funds for wood for two violins and ‘The Plowden Revealed’ by Jordan Hess. I eventually decided to use the wood to make 2 late Guarneri del Gesu inspired violins. The benefit was that it helped with consistency and understanding of how to approach a late del Gesu.’The Plowden Revealed’ by Jordan Hess was an invaluable resource of high-quality detailed pictures, which helped a lot in the making and antiquing process. I’m very thankful towards the RAB trust for supporting me and other violin-making students.
