Corner Violin Shop | The weekly blog of A. Cavallo Violins, LLC

A Testimonial from one of our Philadelphia Customers

2011-12-02T14:17:00.001-06:00

Dear Alex:I had my first lesson last night....He's pretty good as a bluegrass teacher, and after one hour I had lots of confidence in myself.Most importantly, when he saw my Stopka, he was quite impressed. He had never heard of Stopka before so it was new to him. He played it a little and said "this is a very expensive violin." I said, yeah, it's an investment. Then he played it again,

A (slightly belated) Thanksgiving Post

2011-11-29T15:12:00.008-06:00

Happy Holidays!We're thankful for new creations by living makers...We are consistently impressed by the quality and beauty, both in sound and appearance, of instruments by living makers such as Christopher Jacoby (above) and Dirk Henry (below). These instruments are in high demand. For instance, we bought a beautiful violin by Christopher Ulbricht at VSA a few weeks ago and it is

Tons of Terrific Tonewood

2011-10-28T14:00:00.019-05:00

Beautiful Backs from Bosnia We recently received a shipment of gorgeous Bosnian maple tonewood. It is very light and strong with a beautiful flame. The one-piece violin backs are particularly spectacular. These pieces will go quickly, so contact us immediately if you are interested.Additionally, we have over 100 Sitka, Engelmann, and Italian spruce violin tops available. Contact us to

The Art of Sound 2012

2011-10-20T13:22:00.008-05:00

The Art of Sound International Violin Making CompetitionThis March a new violin making competition will be held in Omaha, Nebraska. Judges for the competition are John Waddle, Amos Hargrave, and Stephanie Voss. Application forms and guidelines are available now. Only fifty violins will be accepted for the first competition. Admissions will be on a rolling, first come first served, basis.

Philadelphia!

2011-10-19T16:24:00.007-05:00

Philadelphia is open for business! Good news from the East Coast: Our Philadelphia store is now open!Our Location:831 West Lancaster Ave Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 (610) 646-7400A new location is a great challenge for us. We are doing it for you! We examined our past customers, and realized that we have over 1,500 customers already in the Philadelphia area and many makers and dealers with easy

2011-05-21T16:16:00.001-05:00

Spring Has Sprung... Graduation is Here... Summer Camp is Coming This is the time of year when we begin to look forward to the future as well as back to the year when considering how to support progress in musical studies. Here at A. Cavallo we hope we can facilitate some of that through our year-end Spring Graduation Spectacular Catalog. In that catalog you will find

2010-05-28T16:48:00.003-05:00

A. Cavallo Violins, LLCWhat to Know When Buying a Bowoutside of shopDear Friends:In the last few weeks bows seem to have been on our customer's minds. Since knowledge is power, we thought it was a good idea to give you an outline of the choices you have when buying a bow, and the advantages or disadvantages you have with each materiel and making technique.If you have any questions regarding

Thank you A. Cavallo

2010-04-17T16:05:00.003-05:00

Hi Alex,Thank you so much for hosting us yesterday at the Art of Sound Exhibition. I had a great time and enjoyed meeting the maker of my violin, David Thomas Meyer. I feel privileged to have such intimate access to the origins of my instrument and to have it explained to me in such exquisite detail. I think every string player should have a chance to hear Meyer's presentation about

Unique Opportunity to See Great Instruments

2010-03-23T09:41:00.007-05:00

The Art of Sound: An Exhibtion of Violins and Violas by Today's Master Makerswhich runs March 19 - April 9, 2010 is open! This year we have more instruments than ever and the makers represented in the show are among the most well known. It is an opportunity to see and hear fine violins and violas made by some of the best living makers in the world. The show is free and open to the public

Unique Opportunity to

2010-03-23T09:41:00.000-05:00

A wonderful letter from a customer!

2009-12-03T11:01:00.002-06:00

"Recently, I went on a quest for a professional level cello. As a member of the Bountiful String Quartet, I was in need of a cello that would blend with my colleagues’ fine instruments. There was also a need for me to find a cello that ran slightly smaller than normal due to my hand size. I came across the A. Cavallo Violins Shop web site and saw several promising cellos being offered. Because I

Falling Leaves and Openings!

2009-09-23T13:26:00.011-05:00

If one were to ask me what the most daunting task is here at A. Cavallo, it would definitely be coming in on Monday after the weekend and realizing I have forty new orders to pack and ship. Keep in mind, the mailman comes at 3:30 and I arrive at work at 1:00. Two and a half hours is a cruel time frame to put one under when there are thirty or more orders to fill.

The Koala Cello

2008-12-19T14:18:00.007-06:00

Occasionally at A. Cavallo Violin Shop we have customers come in who are interested in making/have made their own instruments. Today was one such day. We had a gentleman who came in and wanted to have his daughter's cello appraised. Alex opened up his cello case and was surprised to see a carved koala bear staring out at him.It turned out that he had hand made this instrument for his daughter

Hardanger Fiddle

2008-11-06T11:30:00.013-06:00

At A. Cavallo Violins, LLC we have some very interesting instruments that walk through our door. Last Thursday was one of those occasions. A customer brought in a unique Hardanger fiddle. Hardanger fiddles (hardingfele in Norwegian) originated in Norway and are often considered the instrument of that nation. They became very popular in the mid 1700's and were most commonly used in folk

Fall Rain Adventure

2008-10-28T15:06:00.017-05:00

A while back on Monday, September 29, 2008 Alex, Maddy, Matt, and I each walked into the shop enthusiastic for our day. That was until, as Alex initially discovered, the heavy rains from the prior evening proved too much for a section of our roof!As Alex made his way across the shop to disarm our security system he had to wade through a puddle of water. Directly above the puddle were 3

The Complexities and Challenges of Varnishing

2008-10-16T15:13:00.010-05:00

Here at A. Cavallo Violins we have been embarking on a new project the last couple of months. Our manufacturer from China has been sending us white violins which we have been experimenting by graduating the top and varnishing the instrument. Matt was the first to dive into our varnishing adventure.To begin his varnishing undertaking, Matt selected a violin that Alex had previously graduated and

Fodor Visits A. Cavallo Violins, LLC

2008-10-16T12:44:00.014-05:00

On Thursday, September 25 two renowned visitors came through our shop door. Eugene Fodor, 1974 Tchaikovsky International Competition winner, stopped in while in town for a concert. Accompanying Mr. Fodor was Richard Molzer President of Cannone Enterprises, Inc who is a prestigious violin maker, dealer, and restorer.Throughout the visit there was never a dull moment. Mr. Molzer looked at our

Renting from A. Cavallo Violins

2008-09-12T18:12:00.003-05:00

Parents come to us with a dilemma: What is the best route for my child this year? Can I rent or should I buy? Should I rent from a "music store" or should I rent from a legit violin shop, buy on line, rent on line, rent from my teacher or school......The questions go on and on. If you are someone looking for a temporary stringed instrument for either your child or yourself, look no

Shop's Commercial Adventure

2008-08-21T17:38:00.001-05:00

It was Monday, the beginning of a fresh week for A. Cavallo Violins LLC. The employees arrived here at nine in the morning, four hours before we were supposed to open. There was a sense of crisp, new energy in the air for the staff. Other than shipping, Mondays are usually relatively quiet here. This Monday was to stand very much apart from the rest of the week however. This was the day

Wholesale Trip To Minneapolis, MN

2008-07-23T12:52:00.004-05:00

A. Cavallo Violins has began to venture deeper into the world of wholesale. With the size of the company having increased by a significant margin, A. Cavallo Violins is just beginning to explore the opportunities and benefits of wholesale. Employing the new whole sale name of Musaica Imports, Dr. Ross and I (Daniel Jacobsen) began the company’s second wholesale trip,

Shop adventure into wholesale

2008-06-24T16:07:00.011-05:00

Hello, I am Cassandra Johnson the new General Manager of A. Cavallo Violins, LLC. Just over one month ago I joined the team here, just as Chris ventured off to graduate school. It has been a wonderful life experiment thus far, with many things to learn and adjust to each day. Besides myself and Daniel, the summer intern joining the team, we have expanded the business from retail and online to

My First Week

2008-06-05T16:33:00.003-05:00

My first week of work here at A. Cavallo Violins has been one of great experience. I have found myself to constantly be striving to take in as much information as possible. From day one here, I have always been open to suggestions from my fellow colleagues on how to improve upon my “first week of work” skills. My first day of work here was one filled with both

Omaha Conservatory of Music Institute: July 20-25, 2008

2008-06-01T09:00:00.001-05:00

I was clicking around on violinist.com to find any listings of summer music camps or festivals that any of you local readers might be interested in. Unfortunately, Omaha's Conservatory of Music Institute wasn't on the list so I thought I'd give them a spotlight on the blog.David Barg is the guest conductor for this year's Omaha Conservatory of Music Institute. He has numerous experiences

Omaha Symphony Masterworks Series: Piano Extravaganza

2008-05-30T09:00:00.002-05:00

Omaha Symphony Masterwork Series: Piano ExtravaganzaPianists: Orli Shaham, Stewart Goodyear, & Alexander KrosantiaFriday May 30th & Saturday May 31st, 8:00 p.m.Holland Performing Arts CenterThe Omaha Symphony concludes its Masterworks series with a PIANO EXTRAVAGANZA on Friday, May 30th and Saturday, May 31st at the Holland Performing Arts Center. This program features three of the greatest

Chg's Final Post on Corner Violin Shop...

2008-05-24T12:44:00.006-05:00

September 15, 2006. My first day as a full time employee at A. Cavallo. When I jumped on board, we were down to 3 employees. The shop had lost its full time repair woman earlier that year and Les was still working part-time as he was finishing up his undergraduate degree. Just before we had arrived, the shop had its first real administrative employee but unfortunately we lost her as well.I

Omaha Symphony Casual Classics Series: Patriotic Parade

2008-05-24T09:00:00.000-05:00

The Omaha Symphony’s CASUAL CLASSICS series wraps up on Saturday, May 24h with a PATRIOTIC PARADE. The performance will feature music from some of America’s most well-known composers, including Copland, Sousa, Ellington and Bernstein. The program takes place at 7:30 p.m. in the Holland Center, at 13th and Douglas Streets. Ernest Richardson conducts.

Polish Maker's Spotlight: Szlachtowski, Koscielny, & Cracovia Workshop

2008-05-22T16:46:00.003-05:00

For a number of years, the shop had been investing its time in locating world class contemporary makers from abroad such as Italy or Germany. However, it seems like the boss recently has had an interest in the up and coming makers of Eastern Europe like Poland, Czech Republic, or Romania. If you've kept tabs on my Twitter account, you may have heard about the arrival of some new instruments.

One hectic day at the shop...

2008-05-21T20:48:00.009-05:00

Wednesday is supposed to be our slow day but as Alex would put it, "We've been cooking with grease!" The last few days have been surprisingly busy as we've seen an uptick in the local foot traffic. I jokingly told Matt that we needed to log in all of his catch phrases he uses around the shop. Just to list a few, Alex often answers the phone with default lines such as, "Oh my gosh, I have been

Shot of the Day: Hanging Despiau Tree Bridges

2008-05-20T10:16:00.005-05:00

My NikonD70 camera finally came back from the shop. The camera had this problem of interlacing the previous images that were taken and as a result the files were either unreadable or corrupt. The repairman had to replace this small little electronic component inside which did some damage to my bank account but I can swallow it with a dose of reality. Afterall, it's a highly specialized form of

Violin Swindler Article Update & A Book Deal?

2008-05-17T12:08:00.001-05:00

This is a bit of an update from a previous entry on violin dealer con-artist Joseph Tang. Remember him? The San Francisco Chronicle's piece followed up on the story with Tang pleading guilty to all original federal indictment charges. He pleaded guilty last week to mail and wire fraud, after scamming 10 people out of about $400,000 in connection with the sale and consignment of string

Omaha Symphony Pops: A Tribute to John Williams

2008-05-16T09:00:00.001-05:00

Omaha Symphony Pops: Tribute to John WilliamsFriday, May 16, 2008, 8:00 p.m.Saturday, May 17, 2008, 8:00 p.m.Sunday, May 18, 2008, 2:00 p.m.Kiewit Concert HallHolland Performing Arts CenterThe Omaha Symphony’s Pops series concludes with A TRIBUTE TO JOHN WILLIAMS this Friday through Sunday at the Holland Performing Arts Center. One of the most popular and successful modern American composers,

Happy Birthday Corner Violin Shop! You're 1 Year Old and Counting

2008-05-15T15:01:00.002-05:00

It all started with my first entry on May 15, 2007. It's now been a little under two years since I've started working here and I've certainly learned a lot.With a few weeks left at the shop and as I get ready to head off to architecture school, what does the future of the blog hold? Hopefully more bloggers to add! While I haven't discussed the details with Alex, I might be hired to write some

Honda's Humanoid Robot ASIMO Conducts the Detroit Symphony Orchestra

2008-05-14T19:00:00.001-05:00

By now, you guys are already familiar with robots playing violins or trumpets so it should come as no surprise when they've stepped up to the podium.Leonard Slatkin, director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, stepped aside on Tuesday night for a special guest conductor. Standing at 4-foot-3 and weighing 119 pounds, Honda's Humanoid robot Asimo made his conducting debut with the piece. Asimo

The Art & History of Violin Cases

2008-05-13T14:04:00.001-05:00

In the wild west world of eBay, you meet some interesting bidders with all sorts of knowledge. One person we've met so far is collector Glen P. Wood. Now here at the shop, we do a fair share of appraisals on all string things related but Dr. Wood seems to have carved himself as an expert on the art of violin cases. With all those expensive advancements in case technology, who knew that such

Shot of the Day: Stained Glass Violin with Lion's Head Scroll

2008-05-12T14:48:00.000-05:00

Remember that lion's head scroll that was sold a week ago on eBay? The winning bidder emailed us some photos of his latest creation installed with his latest prize.I thought about categorizing this post under Weird Stringed Instruments but decided against it since it's no longer playable. Also, I thought the bidder took some real time and effort into crafting this stained glass work of art.

Omaha Symphony's Chamber Series: Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony

2008-05-09T09:00:00.002-05:00

Omaha Symphony Chamber Series:Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony Conductor: Richard Pittman Saturday, May 10, 2008, at 7 p.m. Strauss Performing Arts CenterThe Omaha Symphony’s Chamber Series continues on May 10th with MENDELSSOHN’S ITALIAN SYMPHONY. Other pieces on the program include Rossini’s Italian Girl in Algiers Overture and Ives’ Three Places in New England. Rossini

Double Bass Blog: In Search of the Perfect Bow

2008-05-08T11:53:00.006-05:00

If you don't have access to the Strings Magazine Buyer's Guide 2008, you can always check out what the bloggers have to say about buying that next musical investment. The other day, I was perusing Jason Heath's Double Bass Blog and found a great post in "In Search of the Perfect Bow".[Jason with a perfect bow?]The Strings Magazine's articles describes how buyers should think with their money,

The Strings Magazine 2008 Buyer's Guide is a Good Read

2008-05-07T12:50:00.012-05:00

With how busy the shop has been operating, I haven't had a whole lot of time to read up on industry trends. If you're an avid follower of all string things or a newbie that's interested in getting into playing string, do check out the latest issue of the Strings Magazine. Nope, we're not being paid to promote them, but we do love it when they publish some good articles about the business and

Deborah Greenblatt: Fiddle Workshop for Folks Who Have Never Fiddled

2008-05-05T14:39:00.000-05:00

Deborah GreenblattOld Avoca SchoolhouseSaturday, May 17th, 1:00 to 3:00 p.mFiddle player Deborah Greenblatt will present a Fiddle Workshop for Folks Who Have Never Fiddle. Greenblatt will share some hints about beginning fiddling, shopping for a fiddle, reading music, playing by ear and more. Fiddles will be available for participants to play and source lists for further study will be provided.

OAYO Youth Symphony: Side-by-Side Concert with the Omaha Symphony

2008-05-02T12:46:00.000-05:00

OAYO Youth Symphony and Omaha Symphony Side-by-Side ConcertOAYO Youth PhilharmonicHolland Performing Arts CenterSunday, May 04 @7:00pm, 2008The final OAYO season concert is performed at the Holland Performing Arts Center. The Youth Symphony joins forces with the Omaha Symphony to present their final concert of the season. The performance features the Pines of Rome by Respighi, the Academic

NS Design: Arrival of the new Ned Steinberger Electric Cello

2008-05-02T12:03:00.003-05:00

The long awaited electric instruments finally arrived at the store: A 5 stringed electric violin and a 4 stringed electric cello. We haven't had a whole lot of success selling electric violins in the past (i.e., Ted Brewer Violins) but that may change with our new addition of Ned Steinberger instruments.Bask in the glow of the CR4 Ned Steinberger Electric Cello. We first stopped by our local

Weird String Instruments: That Crazy Bettie Paige Double Bass ;)

2008-04-29T16:39:00.002-05:00

I always love it when we have non-classical musicians stopping by our shop. The other day, we had a a double bassist that dropped off his instrument for a new bridge. He was in a rock-a-billy band with a very interesting bass. He painted the bass in a mixture of black, green, with a gold finger board white tape decal.At first I thought the strings were made of plastic. I had crazy thoughts of

Omaha Symphony MasterWorks Series: An Evening of Mozart

2008-04-26T14:55:00.000-05:00

An Evening of MozartConductor: Joseph SilversteinDavid Jolley, hornFriday, April 25, 2008, at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 26, 2008, at 8 p.m. Holland Performing Arts CenterMozart: Symphony No. 29Mozart: Horn Concerto No. 4Mozart: Symphony No. 36, "Linz"The Omaha Symphony’s MasterWorks series continues on April 25th and 26th with AN EVENING OF MOZART. Nearly all musicians since Mozart’s time, even

The Organ Vesper Series: The Chiara String Quartet

2008-04-21T23:58:00.000-05:00

The Chiara String QuartetPresbyterian Church of the Cross1517 South 114 Street, Omaha NESunday, April 27. 3:00 p.m.ADMISSION FREE!". . . the award-winning foursome clearly has what it takes to make a lasting impression in the chamber music world."-- The Baltimore Sun, Tim Smith

Orchestra Omaha: Long Ago and Far Away

2008-04-19T12:48:00.003-05:00

Orchestra Omaha: Long Ago and Far Awaywith Ruth Meints and William Wolcott, violinsFirst United Methodist Church69th & CassSunday 3:00 PM | April 20FREE and open to the public.Elgar: March of the Mogul EmperorsButterworth: A Shropshire LadVaughn-Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas TallisHolst: Concerto for Two ViolinsHolst: Selections from ‘The Planets’

Omaha Symphony Pops Series: Three Broadway Divas

2008-04-18T14:54:00.006-05:00

Omaha Symphony’s Pops Series: Three Broadway DivasHolland Performing Arts CenterFriday, April 18, 2008, at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 19, 2008, at 8 p.m. Sunday, April 20, 2008, at 2 p.m. The Omaha Symphony’s Pops series continues with THREE BROADWAY DIVAS, April 18th through the 20th. Three of Broadway’s best—Debbie Gravitte, Anne Runolfsson and Jan Horvath—light up the stage at the Holland Center.

Weird Instruments: Made Here in Nebraska

2008-04-17T12:09:00.001-05:00

Another weird instrument from the collection held at Hastings College of Nebraska.Front and back views offer a trapezoidal take on the string instrument, that believe it or not, had some ingenuity and real thought into its construction.An interesting take on the scroll box, as it was completely carved out!The scroll's head played off of it's body's geometric shape with a cubic head and a gemstone

The A. Cavallo Violins, LLC Operation Manual: it is done!

2008-04-15T14:36:00.004-05:00

3 Words: It is done

Omaha Bach Festival: Concert II

2008-04-12T23:02:00.006-05:00

Omaha Bach Festival: Concert IISaint Cecilia Cathedral701 N. 40th StreetSaturday, April 12, 7:30 p.mThe inaugural series of Omaha Baroque celebrates the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. The second concert in the series takes place on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in St. Cecilia Cathedral. Featured performers include Amy Sims, violin; Jonathan Biccum, bassoon; Marie Rubis Bauer, conductor; Kevin Vogt,

Holding down the fort...

2008-04-08T16:27:00.010-05:00

Matt and I have held the fort down for what was a relatively quite day. A few customers stopped by to say "hi". I had a great conversation with a family who was visiting town to see their relatives. I got to practice my Japanese with the Grandpa he told me stories from his Navy days at various ports in South East Asia. Both of his grandchildren were excited as we showed them some of the entry

The Chiara String Quartet: On Tour in Nebraska

2008-04-07T22:56:00.014-05:00

The Chiara String Quartet is on tour in Nebraska starting April 21 to April 24. They will play at various local communities as part of the Lied Center's Arts Across Nebraska Initiative Chiara String Quartet have been the Artists-in-Residence at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln's School of Music. Their duties include teaching and coaching students in the area of chamber music, along with

Omaha Bach Festival: Concert I

2008-04-05T19:00:00.001-05:00

Omaha Bach Festival: Concert IKountze Memorial Lutheran Church2650 Farnam StreetSaturday 5th, 7:30 p.mThe inaugural series of Omaha Baroque celebrates the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. The first concert in the series takes place on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church. Featured performers include Amy Sims and William Wolcott, viollns; Thomas Kluge, viola; Greg Clinton,

Last week...A brief break from the violin biz

2008-04-02T18:07:00.013-05:00

Last week, I took a break from the shop routine and went off to visit University of Michigan. No plans to pickup the old fiddle in graduate school but looking for potential architecture programs. The Detroit airport greeted me with rain and the shuttle to Ann Arbor dropped me off to a campus anticipating snow. I had a great time visiting the campus and talking with fellow prospectives. It's

Shot of the Day: Lion's Head Scroll

2008-04-02T16:24:00.010-05:00

Yesterday, a customer stopped by the shop with a box full of musical parts and repair items. You'll see them up on eBay but I had to post about the lion's head scrolls.Intricately carved lion's head scroll and neck. It was likely to have been German work from the turn of the century. I'm not sure if the tongue was carved out entirely but if it was, then that's some real woodwork.We'll see what

2008-2009 OAYO Youth Concerto Competition

2008-04-01T16:07:00.003-05:00

Saturday, April 5, 2008UNO Recital HalStrauss Performing Arts Center60th & Dodge, Omaha NEOn February 26th, OAYO announced the date for their annual Youth Concerto Competition. A post marked application was to be mailed on March 21st so this announcement is a bit late for those who want to participate. Nevertheless, the Concerto Competition Finals are open to the public!It's a good chance to

Tuesday Musical Concert Series

2008-03-31T11:12:00.000-05:00

Tuesday Musical Concert SeriesNicole Cabell, sopranoTuesday, 7:00 p.m. April 1st, 2008Joslyn Art Museum @ 7:00 p.m.The Tuesday Musical Concert Series concludes on April 1st with a performance featuring soprano Nicole Cabell. She was the 2005 winner of the BBC Singer of the World Competition. Cabell’s 2006-2007 season included debuts at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and the Santa Fe Opera

The Organ Vesper Series: Gala Benefit Concert

2008-03-30T11:54:00.007-05:00

Gala Benefit ConcertFavorite Sextet Music for Strings byBrahms and TchaikovskySunday March 30, 3pmThe Sunday concert features past performers from the Organ Vesper Series. Musicians on the program include Amy Sims, Anne Nagosky, Judy Divis, Clark Potter, Patty Ritchie, and Bill Ritchie. The concert will take place in the Presbyterian Church of the Cross and is ticket event. Tickets are priced

Weird Instruments: Viol da Gamba

2008-03-26T12:01:00.000-05:00

[it's a monster]No, it's not a sitar, it's a viol! The first I've ever seen. A couple weeks back, we had a customer from Hastings College bring all kinds of interesting instruments for us to look at. Many of them needed some major repair and restoration work done on the instrument. I've taken some quick photos to document the 'before' shots.A set of strings running through the bridge and under

A. Cavallo's Employee Handbook in the Draft

2008-03-24T12:43:00.012-05:00

Time to update you guys on the state of the shop.Our soon to be repair woman, Maddy Mayer, spent the last week helping us out with repairs and rehairs at the shop. Our gopher of the shop, double bassist Matt Nicholson, has been promoted to full time status. Possible new hire positions on the horizon, we shall see.Meanwhile, what's been going on with me. I've occasionally posted some local

Master Works Series: A Night in Old Vienna

2008-03-24T11:52:00.001-05:00

A Night in Old ViennaHolland CenterMarch 28-29, 8:00p.mThomas Wilkins, conductorAmy Schwartz Moretti, violinSpend a night celebrating Vienna's rich cultural heritage and greatest composers. The Omaha Symphony’s MasterWorks Series continues on March 28th and 29th with A NIGHT IN OLD VIENNA. You can enjoy two different takes on the Viennese waltz, Mozart’s clean and invigorating Turkish Concerto

KVNO Classical 90.7 FM's Spring 2008 Pledge Drive

2008-03-11T00:44:00.005-05:00

Spring 2008 Pledge DriveClassical 90.7 FM KVNOMarch 12-18Every morning, I have to head to work through flurry of traffic on I-80 where commuters from Lincoln come into Omaha. The last thing I want to worry about is accidentally rear-end the stream of mini-van moms and high school drivers on the oh so quiet "Pacific" street.That's why I reach for the dial in the car for some good old classics to

Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha: March Concert

2008-03-11T00:30:00.007-05:00

Chuck Penington and the Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha presents their March concert on Sunday the 16th, at the Rose Blumkin Home. Intergeneration was founded in 1985 with the goal of forming an orchestra of the elderly and young musicians. There's no age restrictions to participate as players have ranged from age 12 to 82!

OAYO Spring Concert

2008-03-09T21:50:00.004-05:00

OAYO Spring ConcertSunday @4:00pm, March 9, 2008The OAYO Youth Philharmonic, Youth Conservatory Orchestra and Youth Chamber Strings perform their final concert for the 2007-08 season. The final concert by the three OAYO ensembles will be performed in the Strauss Recital Hall on UNO's campus.

Chamber Series: Mozart's 40th Symphony

2008-03-09T11:41:00.002-05:00

Omaha Symphony'S Chamber SeriesUNO Strauss CenterMarch 22, 7 p.m.Haydn Symphony No.38Hindemith Der SchwanenedreherMozart Symphony No.42Thomas Wilkins, conductorThomas Kluge, violaThe Omaha Symphony’s Chamber Series continues on Saturday with MOZART’S 40th SYMPHONY. A remarkable work of tremendous scope, the piece is paired with HINDEMITH’S narrative work for viola and HAYDN’S 38th

Greenblatt & Seay’s Schoolhouse

2008-03-08T16:41:00.001-06:00

Greenblatt & Seay’s Schoolhouse Old Avoca SchoolhouseSunday, March 8th, 2:30 p.m.This performance series continues with a program of Irish music on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. The concert will incorporate vocals and a variety of instrumental textures, including fiddle, pennywhistle, guitar and banjo. Light refreshments and a chance to chat and jam with the performers will follow the performance. The

Blogging some more when I return...

2008-03-03T09:19:00.004-06:00

Sorry for the slowdown in blogging frequency. This time, it's my turn to take some time off at the shop as I go career and grad school hunting. It's also a good excuse to check up on a friend.Earlier, I was in New York attending a career forum for bilingual speakers. Made me realize I've got my work cut out if I want work abroad, especially in Japan. At the moment, I"m in D.C. to check out

Tbe Organ Vesper Series: The Impromptu Duo

2008-03-02T11:50:00.005-06:00

The Organ Vesper Series: The Impromptu DuoPresbyterian Church of the Cross1517 South 114 Street, Omaha NESunday, March 2, 3:00 p.m.Christine Erlander Beard, fluteMichelle Vigneau, oboeSusan Tomkiewicz, oboeVictor Asuncion, pianoFREE ADMISSION

Orchestra Omaha: Fabulous Firsts

2008-03-01T15:44:00.004-06:00

Orchestra Omaha Presents: Fabulous FirstsArthur Masyuk, violinIzayah Dutcher, violinLutheran Church of the MasterSunday, March 2nd, 2008. 3:00p.m.Violin Concerto, Op. 48, KabalevskyConcerto in D Major, K. 218, MozartSymphony No. 1, Op. 39, SibeliusFeaturing the winners of the 2nd annual Youth Concerto Competition: Arthur Masyuk and Izayah Dutcher.

Omaha Symphony Master Works Series: Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess

2008-02-27T13:01:00.002-06:00

Gershwin’s Porgy and BessConductor: Thomas WilkinsAlyson Cambridge, sopranoLeonard Rowe, baritoneDavid Batter, chorusmasterFriday, February 29, 2008, at 8 p.m.Saturday, March 1, 2008, at 8 p.m.Holland Performing Arts CenterBerlioz: Béatrice et Bénédict: OvertureFauré: Pelléas et Mélisande: SuiteMaxwell Davies: An Orkney Wedding, With SunriseGershwin: Porgy and Bess: Concert SuiteOrchestra,

Maddy Mayer's Senior Violin Recital

2008-02-25T17:05:00.001-06:00

Maddy Mayer's Senior Violin RecitalSunday, March 2, 2008. 2:00pm - 3:00 pmPerkins Auditorium in Fuhr HallHastings, NEAs a flurry of violin concerts are steadily approaching due to graduation season, our very own Maddy Mayer is finishing up her performance degree with a recital. You may have seen Maddy in previous blog entries documenting repair work on string instrument tops . She probably

Tuesday Musical Concert Series: Gabriela Montero

2008-02-23T11:32:00.002-06:00

Tuesday Musical Concert SeriesGabriela Montero, pianoJoslyn Art MuseumWitherspoon Concert HallFebrurary 26th, 2008 7:10p.m.More concert events for you local readers and classical lovers. If you haven't heard of the Tuesday Musical Concert Series go check them out. Originally established in 1892 as a morning music club, their first concerts was held in local homes around Omaha and in the

Bad Business Practice: "Trusting" Your Violin Out

2008-02-21T23:14:00.002-06:00

If you ever read up my profile, I described the violin business as "cloak and dagger" or Byzantine in nature. This recent news article from the Ottawa Citizen is a good illustration of why the business gets the reputation it does for such bad practice.Although the events of the article occurred a couple months back, the piece centers around Ottawan Peter Dawson. Fidder and violinmaker of 46

An Arcos Visit and Nitrating Violin Bows

2008-02-20T17:32:00.002-06:00

The other day we had Brian, the sales rep from Arcos Brasil come by. Good timing since we needed a few extra cakes of those carved rosin boxes with refills and some good solid bows. These bows are solid commercial bows being from Brazil. It's tough being a bow maker when Les has to compete against top notch guys down South.Les got a chance to show some of his bows and Brian them. He said

Frog Blanks, Chinrests, Pegs: The Endless Organization of Parts

2008-02-19T15:43:00.002-06:00

We're still recovering from unpacking all the little mini-boxes of parts from India. They're all out and accounted for but where to put them?First up was the box full of ebony materials. The big chunk of ebony block I'm holding is used to make the frog of a double bass bow. With this much wood, you could probably divide it up and make two to four good violin bow frog blanks.The blocks of ebony

Heifer International Benefit Concert

2008-02-17T13:35:00.001-06:00

Heifer International Benefit Concert@St. Paul United Methodist Church5410 Corby St., Omaha NEFriday, February 22, 2008 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m."Save the world with great music, one donation at a time. Join Luke Witchger and some of the most talented young musicians in the state for a benefit concert on February 22. Admission is free -- any free-will donations will be sent to Heifer International and

BBC NEWS | Magazine: How to Repair a Valuable Violin

2008-02-16T12:43:00.000-06:00

Damaged Areas on David Garrett's ViolinCracks running vertical and around sidesCracks near f-holesTwo sound post cracks on the topBass bar crackNeck Repair"If someone has a liver transplant, who are they? A Stradivarius violin with one rib of the six replaced is still a Strad. That said, the necks of all Stradivariuses are relatively new as these wear out - and they are not intrinsic to the sound

Maker's Spotlight: German Bow Maker Otto Pfretzschner

2008-02-15T00:30:00.012-06:00

It seems like our online auction has experienced a resurgence with a slew of great makers' works coming into our hands. This week, we are privileged to offer a very fine bow probably made by Otto Pfretzschner.The Pfretzschner family was one of the most prolific and well known bow making families in the late 19th to twentieth centuries. Otto Pfretzschner is one of the lesser known members of

Shot of the Day: Cello Bridge Valentine Heart

2008-02-14T00:07:00.004-06:00

[Happy Valentines Day!]

It's Here...The Towering Box of 3000 String Instrument Parts from India!

2008-02-13T16:56:00.006-06:00

[whoof...sign here please]5 Boxes full of string instrument parts, roughly 3000 or so! Verne, the UPS guy, had to heave these boxes full of goodies off the dolly after it got stuck in the doorway. Matt, our new part timer, is going to have a crash course lesson tomorrow in identifying all these parts.[Box Henge]We're not about to do a shipment count after a busy day. At the end of the day, we

Inside Repair Job: Opening Violins

2008-02-11T15:52:00.000-06:00

Our latest repair project involves taking off the top of a violin and cleating together an extended crack from saddle. It's a common one that we see on the tops of instruments and can be properly repaired good knowledgeable hands. I would discourage any amateurs that think a quick filling of the old epoxy and wood color can bring the instrument up to par ;)Besides the crack that needs to be