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Workshop

Philippe Girardin Atelier Lutherie

Philippe Girardin in his workshop

Born in an artist's family, his mother a pianist and his father a sculptor, Philippe Girardin starts playing piano and violin at the age of six, gets his baccalaureate degree in 1976, begins sociology studies at the university, obtains his Diploma from the Violinmaking School of Cremona in 1981, plays in an orchestra since 25 years, runs two violinmaking workshops in Milan and Neuchâtel with his associates A-D Cardinet, S. Rusticoni and A. Corrochano, does fundamental research on the acoustics of violin for 17 years, is interested in photography (photos of instruments), has a passion for the varnishes of italian 16th, 17th and 18th centuries (look at the chapter « VARNISH » ) and spends his free time in museums. He is married and has four children.

 

Member of the VSA (USA) and SVGB (CH), he won the following rewards:

- 1983 Laureate (cello) , Louis Spohr Competition, Kassel, Germany

- 2008 Silver Medal (violin) , VSA Competition, USA

- 2008 Certificate of Merit for Tone (viola) , VSA Competition, USA

- 2010 Gold Medal (violin, copy of antique) , Pisogne Competition, Italy

- 2010 1st Prize for acoustics (violin), Pisogne Competiton, Italy

- 2010 Jury's Special Prize for acoustics and varnish (violin, author's copy), Pisogne Competition, Italy

 

 

My colleagues and associates

Cardinet Rusticoni Denon Corrochano

 


 

Anne-Dominique Cardinet
  

Anne-Dominique Cardinet

Born  in Paris in 1955, Anne-Dominique Cardinet  soon settled in her adoptive country, Switzerland. Equally drawn to the Fine Arts and music, her studies first ventured  through psychology and music therapy before returning to her first passion -  piano - which she taught for some time  while raising a family.

However, her long standing fascination with the violin led her to begin an in-depth  study of the instrument, from which sprung dreams of becoming a violin maker. The turning point came when she met Philippe Girardin in 1990 and convinced him to take her on as an apprentice. Since then, she continues to pursue in the workshop her quest for harmony, and joins the association in 2007.

 

 

 


 

Sylvain Rusticoni
  

Sylvain Rusticoni

Born in Geneva in 1976, Sylvain Rusticoni began studying classical guitar at the age of eight, and early on developed a passion for woodworking, string instruments and their tone from his father’s workshop.  After completing his studies in engineering in 1996, Sylvain spent three years in the Violinmaking School of Quebec, where he earned his diploma in 2001. He perfected his craft in the workshop of Philippe Girardin,  and became an associate in 2007. Concurrently, he opened his own workshop in 2004, specializing in cello making.

 

 

 

Sylvain Rusticoni
  

Monica Fortin

Monica was born in Cuba and grew up with music in her blood. She began her musical and violin education in Cuba at the age of seven. After making her first three instruments under the tutelage of European trained Mexican Luthiers, she decided to switch her focus from violin playing to violin making, and in 2003, she was accepted to join the École Internationale de Lutherie de Mirecourt. After a year in Mirecourt she began working in L’Atelier Meteny (Brussels, Belgium) with violin maker Pascal Gilis.

In 2011, Monica moved to USA, and worked for several renowned violin makers, among them, Larry Wilkie in Connecticut and Michael Fischer in California. She established herself in the Washington DC Area in 2013 working part time at Potter Violins and part time in her own violin shop, were she dedicated most of her time to new instrument making and sound adjustments. 

Monica now focuses on the creation of violins, violas, and cellos. She is a member of The American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers.

Monica speaks Spanish, English and French fluently.

 

 

 

Sylvain Rusticoni
  

Alan Petermann

 

Born in the United States in 1980, Alan began studying the violin at the age of ten. He was accepted to The University of North Carolina School for the Arts where he studied with Sarah Johnson.

After school and playing professionally, he joined the staff of A. Cavallo Violins in Omaha, Nebraska as the sales manager for the shop. While at A. Cavallo Violins, Alan studied repair and violin making with Mark Womack. He was then approached by Potter Violins to become the sales manager of their shop.

Alan specializes in the aquisition of violins and bows as well as tonal adjustments.

 
In order to enable children to benefit from the new instrument-making techniques, the workshop has developed a line of high quality instruments available for rent. Among the almost 600 little violins, violas and cellos from 1/32 to 3/4 size, hired out in Switzerland and abroad, one hundred have been specially adjusted, balanced and harmonized for children with as much care as for a full size instrument.

This activity has become an important field of applied research for the workshop. In accordance with the ethics governing  alterations to an existing instrument, two designs are made for each instrument, which can be compared to each other. The initial design shows the state in which the original instrument entered the workshop; the second design indicates precisely the modifications undergone by the instrument with the intention of improving its tone.