Metzler Violin Shop To Present Exhibition And Sale By 90 Violin & Bow Makers

Founded in 1979, the esteemed Metzler Violin Shop will host a three-day exhibition of exquisite contemporary instruments and bows crafted by leading luthiers from across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil, starting Friday morning, April 7th, 2017 at 10 a.m. Later that same day, at 7:30 p.m., Martin Chalifour, concertmaster of the Los Angeles Philharmonic will make a highly unusual appearance to demonstrate the differing sounds on a variety of violins; he plans to perform short musical excerpts that show off the entire range of the instrument on each of the more than sixty violins. The event, much like a wine tasting, will permit the invited public audience to take notes on a provided printed program, which, in many cases will assist them in making the decision as to which of these works of art

to purchase.

Similarly, on Saturday evening, April 8th, at 7:30 p.m., violist Richard O'Neill and cellist Marek Szpakiewicz will be on hand to offer tonal comparisons, and each of the more than thirty violas and twelve cellos will be demonstrated before a seated audience of collectors, music teachers, music students and professional and amateur players. During the three-day exhibition players will also have the opportunity to play the instruments and bows privately in one of Metzler Violins' many try-out rooms. The sale and exhibition, which is open to

the public, will culminate in a closing reception Sunday evening, April 9th, 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Long a magnet for local, national, and international musicians, Metzler Violins offers a large selection

of new and antique instruments and bows, teaching studios, and an extensive string sheet music library guided by a knowledgeable and friendly staff of expert violin makers and music teachers. It is situated nine miles from downtown Los Angeles, in an attractive historic adobe building at 604 S. Central Avenue, Glendale, California, 91204.

For further details, phone 1-888-846-5467 (1-888-VIOLINS) or visit metzerlviolins.com.

Notable among the many instrument makers who will be represented in the sale, are the following: 2005 MacArthur Fellowship awardee Joseph Curtin, whose "ex-Ricci" violin sold for $132,000, thereby breaking a world record price for a contemporary instrument. Mr. Curtin counts among his current and past clients Erick Friedman, Ilya Kaler, Cho-Liang Lin, Elmar Oliveira, Yehudi Menuhin, and Ruggiero Ricci. The husband-and-wife team of Joseph Grubaugh and Sigrun Seifert who have won numerous gold and silver medals in international competitions, discovered the "Duke of Alcantara" Stradivarius which had been missing from University of California, Los Angeles, for 27 years and were responsible for the violin's return. Montreal-based Emanuel Begin is considered to be a star among bow makers, having been awarded four gold medals in the recent Violin Society of America Competition. Tetsuo Matsuda became well-known while working for the W.H. Lee Company in Chicago and has won medals for violin-making in Italy and Poland. Highly decorated Oregonian David Gusset, has over ten medals to his credit. Renowned New York violin maker Guy Rabut has sold instruments to members of the New York Philharmonic.

Internationally renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma has performed on a cello made by AnDrew Carruthers, recipient of the 2016 certificate of merit for cello tone from the Violin Society of America. Ben Ruth, a respected Boston-based violin maker, received gold medals in three distinct Violin Society of America competitions and was designated "hors concours." He received top prize for tone at the most recent competition of the British Violin Making Association in London.

On Sunday, April 23rd, the Metzler Violin Shop, along with the Nevada School of the Arts, will host the exhibition in Las Vegas, Nevada, which will take place from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Nevada School of the Arts, 401 S. Fourth St, 5th Street School Auditorium. From 2:00pm to 4:00pm, there will be demonstrations on the instruments by three world-renowned soloists: DeAnn Letourneau, violin, concertmaster of the Las Vegas Philharmonic, violist Nokuthula Ngwenyama, and cellist Daniel Gaisford. All instruments and bows exhibited will be available to play and to purchase.

Thomas Metzler, founder and owner of the Metzler Violin Shop, travelled to Germany in 1972 to pursue his dream of being a violin maker. He had been a violin major at the University of Iowa when he left to study overseas. Mr. Metzler received a degree from the Bavarian State Trade School for Violin Making in 1976. After a three-year apprenticeship with Hans Weisshaar, Mr. Metzler opened a small shop in a second-floor walk-up in Glendale, California, with his partner David Rivinus. In 1983 they moved the shop to its present location, and, that same year, Mr. Metzler married violinist Barbara Don. Mr. Rivinus left the business shortly after to concentrate on instrument making, and since then Ms. Don, who over the years painstakingly created a first-rate collection of string sheet music, has been an integral part of the Metzler shop. They have two daughters, opera singer and violinist Julia Metzler and cellist Leah Metzler, both of whom are pursuing outside careers in music, but who still find time to lend a hand at the Metzler Violin Shop.

PARTICIPANTS:

Alexander Tzankow

Alfred Rordame

Alina Kostina

Alkis Rappas

Allan Droyan

Alysio de Mattos

AnDrew Carruthers

Anna Sandys

Ashot Vartanian

Anthony Lane

Anton Domozhyrov

Antonio Rizzo

Arlie Moran

Artak Armenious

Benjamin Ruth

Brian Lisus

Brooks Hollinger

Carlos Funes

Carrie Scoggins

Cheryl Macomber

Chris Dungey

Christopher Hollinger

Christopher Ulbricht

Christopher White

Cody Kowalski

David Gusset

David Chrapkiewicz

David Polstein

David Russell Young

Don Lenker

Donald McKinley

Dorian Barnes

Douglas Cox

Duncan MacDonald

Emmanuel Begin

Ernesto Ramirez

Fabienne Gauchet

Francis Morris

Gary Vessel

Guy Rabut

H.F. Grabenstein

Hratch Armenious

Ivan Zgradic

James Thornton

Jedidjah de Vries

Jeff Manthos

Jesse Maschmeyer

John Aniano

John Hill

John Osnes

Jonathan Franke

Joseph Curtin

Joseph Grubaugh

Joseph Liu

Kelin Zhang

Kurt Jones

Lisa Gass

Marilyn Wallin

Mark Drehmann

Mark Hollinger

Mason Weedman

Martin Heroux

Michael Daddona

Michael Becker

Michele Ashley

Miguel Huipe

Monica Fortin

Nathan Slobodkin

Odin Bykle

Paul Crowley

Paul Schuback

Paul Wiessmeyer

Peg Baumgartel

Perry Daniels

Peter Bingen

Peter Seman

Peter Shaw

Petio Kostov

Phillip Injeian

Robert Isley

Rodney Mohr

Ron Fletcher

Sam Billings

Shahram Rezvani

Shahrokh Tumari

Sigrun Seifert

Steve Rossow

Steven McCann

Tetsuo Matsuda

Theodore Skreko

Tim Summerville

Todd Goldenberg

Ute Zahn

Warren Ellison

William Bartriff

William Scott

Wladek Stopka

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