The Makers:

Patrick studied violin making at the Newark School of Violin Making in England, where he developed a deep appreciation for craftsmanship and the beauty of natural materials. After spending time in New York and Roanoke, Virginia, he is now based in Minneapolis.

Appearance:

This viola features a lively orange-brown varnish that highlights the natural beauty of its fine-to-medium grained two-piece spruce top and broadly figured two-piece maple back.  The maker has modernized the look of this viola by using Sonowood – a sustainable ebony replacement material – for the fingerboard and tailpiece.  The maker’s blackened maple bridge and two-toned pegs of boxwood  create a cutting edge appearance for a viola that otherwise follows the great Cremonese traditions to a “T”.

Sound & Feel:

This viola offers a warm, dark tone with exceptional richness and clarity. Its clear articulation and broad tonal palette allow for a wide range of colors, from deep and powerful lows to nuanced and expressive upper registers.

Materials:

Belly: Spruce, Two-Piece

Back: Maple, Two-Piece

Specs:

Back length: 39.1 cm

String length: 35.9 cm