The Top Violin Makers In The World 2022
Five of the best luthiers in the world and their instruments
As well as making first class, original instruments in the Ruschil & Bailly workshop in London, there are a host of other luthiers that we greatly admire across the world.
We have a look at 5 of the best contemporary violin makers in 2022.
Standing out for their skill, style & accuracy, these are a few contemporary luthiers that make outstanding instruments who we think of as the very best today.
1: Jan Spidlen
Prague, Czech Republic
Spanning generations, the Spidlen family of Prague continue to be an inspiration for the world of violin making, Jan Spidlen creating some of the most elegant instruments anywhere. With a blend of accuracy and style and using the best materials available his instruments are absolute masterpieces that will last centuries.
“Jan Spidlen was born on 12 November 1967 in Prague as the only son of Premysl O. Spidlen. From his early childhood he spent a lot of time in his father's workshop becoming familiar with string instruments, music and wood and even showing significant artistic talent at that young age. His parents encouraged him to take an interest in music and he began to play the violin at the age of five.
He studied wood-carving at the Art and Industrial School in Prague, however, he acquired the fundaments of violin-making in Mittenwald in Germany where he spent a year at the International Violin-Making School. After his return he continued training with his father from whom he also inherited a love of sport. In 1983-1984 he was a member of the national windsurfing team and during the 1990s he was one of the top snowboarding talents in the Czech Republic. Sport continues to play an important part in his life.
In 1989 he travelled to England to study for one year at the prestigious London-based firm J&A Beare where he worked as a restorer and encountered a large number of extremely rare instruments. Since 1988 he is a member of the Violin-Makers' Artists' Circle and in 2003 he was adopted as a member of Entente Internationale des Maitres Luthiers et Archetiers d'Art.”
2: Piotr Pielaszek
Poznan, Poland
A particularly impressive young maker from Poland, Piotr is a highly respected maker of beautiful instruments made in the traditional style. With a balance of beauty and sharpness, using a rich varnish, he has won multiple awards in competitions across the world.
“Piotr Pielaszek has always been in contact with instruments and the violin making world, as his father is a violin maker in Poland as well. Piotr studied cello from an early age, and at 16, moved to Poznan to begin violin making studies at a musical high school. After finishing high school, Piotr became a violin making student at the Musical Academy in Poznan. He completed his bachelor studies and received a diploma with distinction.
During his studies, Piotr was lucky to be offered an internship in Marcus Klimke’s workshop, in Angers, France. This was an eye-opening experience that continued when Marcus asked him to stay on working with him. Piotr went back to school, and then returned to France as Klimke’s assistant. One year later, he also became the assistant of Andrea Frandsen, working part time in each workshop.
After two years of working in France and having taken part in two competitions, Piotr decided to start working on his own.
Piotr now creates violins and violas for discerning musicians from different parts of the world.”
3: Anton Somers
Antwerp, Belgium
A young maker, already making some of the most beautiful violins, violas and cellos in the world, Anton Somers continues to impress. With the very highest quality materials and a world class level of skill, he has created instruments that are sought after across the globe
“Born in 1986, Borgerhout, Belgium. Ever since childhood he was very passionate about woodworking. At the age of 15 he made his first instrument, the next year he started studying at the violin making school of Antwerp.
Directly after his studies in 2006 he worked in a local workshop in Brussels till 2011. Anton then decided to take the leap and started his own business opening his workshop in his hometown Melsele where he grew up and is strongly connected to the cultural life. From 2013 till 2015 Anton Somers and his former employer tried to work together again, but now as chef d'atelier, in the workshop premises of Anton in Melsele. where he worked meanwhile on his own account. One can see finally an output of high quality instruments under his own name, with his own models and with his own varnish, which lead to a boost in his career.
In September 2016 Anton also took on the challenge to work as a teacher in the violin making school of Antwerp ILSA.
Sharing his knowledge for 5 years, he stopped teaching at the end of 2021 to be able to fully focus on his career.
In December 2016 Anton received a Coup du Coeur in the violin making competition “Violoncellenseine” in Paris which was dedicated to the cello. The cello was specially awarded for his tonality qualities by renowned cellist Damian Martinez Marco.
In 2020 Anton was selected by Andy Lim personally to serve as one of the five supervisors for the 3-year string sextet project, where 24 last year student/ recently graduated violinmakers will make 2 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos. Anton has the honour and the challenge to supervice the making of 2 cellos.
In 2021 Anton made a string quartet containing completely CITES certified whalebone purflings.
This quartet is shown in the book published by Darling Publications "Anton Somers Vioolbouwer te Antwerpen ~ 22 instruments of the violin family 2012-2021 which was launched in Brussels, June 2021.
Anton‘s instruments are appreciated by the most demanding musicians as also by investors who keep them in their private collection.”
4: Emilio Crabbé
Brussels, Belgium
Fellow Newark School of Violin Making graduate Emilio Crabbe has shot to fame by making spectacularly beautiful instruments. Winning the silver medal in the Triennale for his stunning viola, pictured above, he has always had a flare and enthusiasm for making aesthetically and tonally impressive violins, violas & cellos.
“Emilio Crabbé discovered his passion for violin making at the age of 14 when visiting the workshop of Thomas Bertrand in Brussels. He continued his learning and graduated with distinction from the Newark School of Violin Making in England. While working as an assistant to Stephen von Baehr in Paris, he concentrated on copying the great Cremonese instruments. Among his accolades is a certificate of merit from the Violin Society of America for a violin on which he and Stephen collaborated. In 2019, Emilio set out on his own and now shares a workshop in Taiwan with his wife, Chiling Chen, who is also a violin maker.”
5: Jonatan Flores Larrea
Zacatecas, México
Jonatan Flores Larrea is a violin maker of exceptional quality and individuality based in Mexico. He can be described as one of the few luthiers in the world with a true eye for aesthetics, accompanied with the ability to make original instruments of the highest order. His violins, violas and cellos are something truly beautiful to behold.
