Biography
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Michetschläger violin 2010
After a childhood in London spent making things, playing the cello and going to concerts, I studied at the Newark School of Violin Making.  On completing the course in 1980, I set up my first workshop, in rural Leicestershire.  From the outset, my idea was to focus primarily on the making of new instruments, and to develop strong links with players, both locally and internationally.  In 1995, I moved to a workshop in the centre of the thriving city of Manchester, which gave me a wonderful opportunity to deepen my contacts with musicians, and to work closely with them on sound, set-up and playing comfort.  I now work from a studio in the Manchester suburbs.

I have made over 240 instruments, which are in the hands of soloists, orchestral players, chamber musicians, teachers and students worldwide.

Having developed a flexible approach to set-up, body size, and neck shape and size  in response to the problems encountered by players, much of my work is made to commission, but instruments are also sometimes available from stock.  I am happy to work closely with teachers to make instruments to suit their pupils, but do not offer any financial incentives to those who recommend my work.

I have lectured on topics related to violin making to audiences of players and violin makers, and have written for publications including The Strad and the BVMA newsletter.  You can download pdf files of these from the Talks and Articles section of this site.

My spare-time activities include working as an honorary director of Manchester Chamber Concerts Society, which promotes seven chamber music concerts annually, held at the Royal Northern College of Music.  I'm also on the board of the Rowan Armour-Brown Trust, which gives help and support to student violin makers.  As part of this work, I offer occasional periods of work experience in my workshop to students.