Festival Exhibition 2023

An international exhibition of fine contemporary violin and bow making runs throughout the festival and displays instruments and bows from some of the leading makers in the field. The exhibition is comprised of both baroque and modern violin, viola, cello and double bass and baroque, transitional and modern bows for the quartet.

The makers will be present, some will be working at their benches and all will be available to meet and to discuss their work. All of the instruments and bows in the exhibition are available for trial and most are available for sale. An instrument and bow maintenance and repair service will also be available throughout the festival.

Violin Talks

Violin Talks are held alongside the exhibition in The Old Methodist Church, Bantry. All talks are free.

Past Events

Sunday 25 June 2023

15. Violin Talk

25 June 202312:10 pm
Marino (Old Methodist) Church, Bantry
Free
Artist Niall Flemming
Tuesday 27 June 2023
BAERBEL BELLINGHAUSEN

39. Violin Talk

27 June 20233:10 pm
Marino (Old Methodist) Church, Bantry
Free
Artist Baerbel Bellinghausen

The Makers

Violin Makers
Baerbel Bellinghausen

Baerbel Bellinghausen

Violin Makers

Baerbel is devoted to sound: string instruments have been part of her life ever since her youth. She is thrilled...

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Youenn Bothorel

Youenn Bothorel

Violin Makers

His sensitivity to music and its instruments led him at 19 years old to Newark School of Violin Making, England,...

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John Cockburn

John Cockburn

Violin Makers

John Cockburn’s passion for violin making arose from lifelong obsessions with acoustics, craftsmanship, and music of all genres. Following stints...

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Andrew Finnigan & Pia Klaembt

Andrew Finnigan & Pia Klaembt

Violin Makers

We are fascinated by sound. Understanding the acoustical properties of our instruments and their materials is the driving force in...

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Bertrand Galen

Bertrand Galen

Violin Makers

Bertrand was born in Metz in eastern France and trained at the Mirecourt International Violinmaking School. After five years as...

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Mira Gruszow & Gideon Baumblatt

Mira Gruszow & Gideon Baumblatt

Violin Makers

After their studies in Cremona and Mittenwald, Mira Gruszow and Gideon Baumblatt worked for different workshops in Germany, London and...

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Michiel de Hoog

Michiel de Hoog

Violin Makers

Michiel de Hoog has been making violins for over forty years. Born in Holland into an artistic family, he started...

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Francis Kuttner

Francis Kuttner

Violin Makers

Francis Kuttner was born in Washington D.C. to German Jewish refugees who fled Berlin in the '30s via Rome and...

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David Munro

David Munro

Violin Makers

David Munro makes violins and violas for professional orchestral musicians, chamber music players and soloists. His instruments have recorded chamber...

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Conor Russell

Conor Russell

Violin Makers

Conor Russell was born in Dublin, Ireland. He played the violin, and began making instruments at Cork School of Music....

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Bow Makers
Victor Bernard

Victor Bernard

Bow Makers

Victor Bernard was born in 1985 near Paris, France. After being graduated from the Newark School of Violin Making, passionate...

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Noel Burke

Noel Burke

Bow Makers

Noel Burke began his bow making career in 1989 as apprentice to Charles Espey in Seattle Washington and later to...

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Emmanuel Carlier

Emmanuel Carlier

Bow Makers

Emmanuel Carlier was born in 1975 near Paris. After history studies, a violin making apprenticeship and few years of journalism,...

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Niall Flemming

Niall Flemming

Bow Makers

Niall started playing the violin at the age of 5. He then became interested in making violins at the age...

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Klaus Grünke

Klaus Grünke

Bow Makers

Klaus Grünke learned the craft of bow making from his father Richard Grünke, in Bubenreuth. In the years 1980- 1982...

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Rudiger Pfau

Rudiger Pfau

Bow Makers

Since my first fortuitous contacts with bowmaking I find my enjoyment of the profession increasing every year.
The craft makes it...

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Stéphane Thomachot

Stéphane Thomachot

Bow Makers

Stéphane Thomachot was born in 1959 in Bourg-la-Reine, France, and studied bow making at Mirecourt under Bernard Ouchard. Upon graduation,...

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Gregor Walbrodt

Gregor Walbrodt

Bow Makers

Gregor Walbrodt, born in 1968, began his training as a bowmaker in 1990 at the Roderich Paesold workshop in Bubenreuth,...

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Arts Council - funding music
Crespo Foundation
Fáilte Ireland
Wild Atlantic Way
Cork County Council
Pure Cork
RTE Lyric FM
Creative Places West Cork Islands
Irish Examiner
Maritime Hotel
IMRO - Irish Music Rights Organisation