Four of our Trustees have just completed a violin to sell to raise funds. Mark Robinson suggested the project
and three other trustees quickly got on board. Mark proposed we make a violin based on the Cramer Heath Bergonzi: he had measurements, photographs and casts. Mark supplied the wood, made the rib structure and prepared the plates ready to send on to Philip Ihle, who completed the arching and purfled front and back.
This project took us through the year of Covid lock downs, and it was exciting when parts arrived by courier beautifully crafted and ready for the next phase. Philip sent the back to Mark and the front on to Elaine Spicer for thicknessing, ff holes and bass bar. Mark put the body together while Nigel Melfi made the head and neck. Mark fitted the neck, then did the varnish and set up.
This violin has now been sold by RAB Trustee Libby Summers in her shop Stamford Strings. Proceeds from the sale will be used for future awards to students and bursaries for special courses.