Givens Violins is pleased to have sold the Henry IV Brothers Amati, Cremona 1595 to the National Music Museum. The violin will be the cover story of the October issue of the Strad Magazine with an extensive article with many photographs written by Claire Givens and Andrew Dipper. This violin will soon be on display at the Museum with a special inaugural event planned for September 24th in celebration of the 400th anniversary of the funeral of Henry IV. It is the only violin which is decorated on the back with the armorials of Henry IV and lettered in gold leaf around the ribs in Latin, “Henry IV by the grace of God King of France and Navarre.” From South Dakota Public Radio: South Dakota Digest interview regarding the Henry IV Amati violin.

Givens Violins would like to congratulate the incredibly dedicated and talented violinist Chad Hoopes on his outstanding performance with the Minnesota Orchestra in May 2010, and his many other well-deserved successes in his musical career thus far. We were thrilled to see Chad in May when he visited the shop to say hello and to have one of his bows rehaired. In addition to his indisputable musical talent, Chad is delightfully personable and engaging, and always wonderful to work with. A native of the Minneapolis area, Chad now lives in Ohio and is a student at the Cleveland Institute of Music. During the years he was in Minnesota, we had the enormous pleasure of helping Chad and his two sisters, a talented violinist and violist in their own right, with their instrument and bow needs. At age 15, Chad Hoopes has performed with venerable musical institutions around the world. He is represented by IMG Artists. In April 2008, Chad was awarded first prize in the Young Artists Division of the Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition. In July, Chad will be performing Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with the San Francisco Symphony. The audience is in for a treat.