1985–89 BA Classical Languages, cum laude, Pomona College, Claremont, CA

Work History

• 1989–93: M&R Weisshaar Violin Shop, Costa Mesa
• 1993–94: Bernard Camurat, Montigny-sur-Loing, France
• 1995–99: Michael Becker Fine Violins, Park Ridge, IL
• 1999–Present: M&R Weisshaar & Son Violin Shop, Costa Mesa, CA

EILA

• Joined 2004
• US Delegate 2017–present
• Natural Resource Committee 2018-present

AFVBM

• Joined 2010
• Board Member 2014–16
• Vice President 2016–18
• President 2018–20
• Secretary 2021–present

Alliance-International

• AFVBM delegate 2018–present
• 2020-22 Current President

1984, American Federation of Violin & Bowmakers, Degree of Journeyman

1989, Fulbright Scholarship and Annette Kade Fellowship for bow study in France

Work history

• 1969–2021, Bassist, Portland Symphony Orchestra
• 1970–present, Self-employed bow repair, bow maker
• 1990–present, Instructor, University of New Hampshire Violin Craftsmanship Institute

Organizations

• 1984–present, American Federation of Violin and Bowmakers
• 1999–present, IPCI-USA
• 2000–present, EILA membership
• 2019–present, EILA Alliance
• 2021–present, Alliance-International, VP

Brianna is the owner of BG Bows in Pasadena, California. After studying bow restoration and making in the US and Europe, she now divides her time between maintaining her customer's bows and making new bows, specializing in double bass bows.. She was formerly a bow specialist at Robert Cauer Violins in Hollywood, California. Brianna is currently on the board of the Alliance-International.

• Bow maker and restorer, NYC
• Founder member, present international chair: IPCI International Pernambuco Conservation Initiative
• Member and past president: American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers
• Board member: International Association of Violin and Bow Makers

EDUCATION

• 1984-87- Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume, French National Violin making School

WORK

• 1987-88- Didier workshop, Metz
• 1988-91- Christophe Girardot workshop, Dijon
• 1992-94- Jean Schmitt workshop, Lyon
• 1994-96- Wilder and Davis workshop, Montreal
• 1996-present- President and violin maker, La Maison de Violon, Inc., Montreal

EILA

• 2003- member
• 2013-17- Vice-president
• 2017-19- President

ALLIANCE

• 2018- Co-founder with Charles Rufino

ALLIANCE-INTERNATIONAL

• 2022- Governor

• Attorney and independent environmental consultant.
• 25 years of experience in nonprofit management, environmental policy and advocacy.
• John has advised the United Nations, the European Union, government ministries, legislators, nonprofit organizations, foundations, universities and businesses.
• He represents the International Alliance of Violin and Bow Makers for Endangered Species before the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) and other government bodies.
• President of the Board of Directors of the International Pernambuco Conservation Initiative-USA
• Past Executive Director of Rainforest Foundation-US
• He holds a B.A. from Wesleyan University and a J.D. from Rutgers Law School.

Violinmaker Jens Stenz was born in Randers, Denmark in 1960. His interest in violinmaking and repairing developed through a profound interest in music and craftsmanship.

1982 – 1985: studied violinmaking at the Welsh School of Musical Instrument Making and Repair, culminating in a Diploma of merit.

1985 – 1986: worked in the shop of Emil Hjorth & Sons in Copenhagen, concentrating on restoration and repair.

1986: opened his own shop in Århus specializing in restoration, new making and dealing in fine instruments and accessories of the violin-family and their bows.

1991: granted membership of the Danish Guild of Master Violin makers, (The National Danish organization of professionally trained violin and bow makers). 1997 – 2003: chairman

1999: accepted as full member of the Entente Internationale des Maitre Luthiers et Archetiers d´Art (The International society of Violin and Bow makers).

Consultant for insurance companies and auction houses, and has been appointed specialist advisor to the court.

Carries out extensive research on the Danish violinmakers of the past, giving lectures on aspects of violinmaking, restoration, and Danish violinmaker history.

Has written articles about the traditions of violin making in Denmark for The Strad Magazine and the British Violin Makers Association Journal.

B.A. in international relations from Bucknell University

1990 – present: member, NAMM

2003 – 2005 and 2011 – 2014: president, NAMM

CEO and owner of Connolly Music Company in East Northport, NY
(U.S. source for an exclusive lineup of best-in-class music products and dedicated to connecting manufacturers, resellers and the devoted community of musicians they serve—their brands include Thomastik-Infeld strings, König & Meyer stands, Revelle instruments and bows, Magic Rosin, The Realist transducers and instruments, Jargar strings, and Boveda humidification.)

As a luthier specializing in the repair and restoration of fine bows of the violin family, Chase serves professional musicians at the highest level through his company, Washington Fine Bows. His craftsmanship, attention to detail, and straightforward ways of doing business have made him a trusted resource for musicians in the greater Washington, DC region.

Chase is honored to serve as a Board Member of Alliance-International, which works to conserve Pernambuco and other precious species. Chase also serves a Mayoral appointment as a DC Arts Commissioner, is a board member of Sound Impact, and is a member of the Violin Society of America.

Educational background: 

• Oberlin Conservatory, viola performance 
• Oberlin College, International Relations
• University of Vermont, Master’s degree in Field Naturalist Program

Work background: 

• Co-owner, Vermont Violins since 1994
• Manufacturer of the V. Richelieu line of violins and violas
• American distributor of Sonowood, a sustainable wood alternative to ebony
• Friends of the Earth where she focused on issues relating to the international tropical timber trade and endangered species preservation including working papers for a UN CITES convention. 
• Nature Conservancy in Vermont where she developed management plans for existing nature preserves with updated ecosystem protection principles

Tom Wilder is a string instrument maker, restorer and historian. After attending the Chicago School of Violin Making and apprenticeships in Seoul, Los Angeles and Paris, he founded his own workshop, Wilder & Davis Luthiers Inc., in Montreal, Quebec in 1991. A second workshop was opened in Banff, Alberta in 2002. Mr. Wilder also holds a Master's degree in Communications and Art History from McGill University. He is the past president of the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers, the Canadian delegate of the Entente Internationale des Luthiers et Archetiers, a member of the Violin Society of America and the founder and president of IPCI-Canada.