Oberlin Violinmaking Workshop - Part 2

The VSA violinmaking workshop at Oberlin College is winding up after two exciting and eventful weeks. Yesterday, Jonah Sirota, violist of the Chiara String Quartet and Artist-in-Residence at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln visited the workshop. Jonah plays a Testore model viola made by Gregg in 2009.

Jonah also graciously agreed to participate in a listening experiment, during which 5 violas were played by Jonah and 24 violins were played by violinist Jing Qiao, who is studying at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Each viola and violin was rated in various categories by the audience members.

In addition to Gregg's Testore model viola being part of the experiment, an Ole Bull violin made by Gregg's apprentice Zak was also part of the experiment. Here is a photo of Ms. Qiao playing Zak's Ole Bull, with Gregg looking on:

Oberlin Violinmaking Workshop

Gregg is participating in the Violin Society of America's annual violinmaking workshop at Oberlin College for the next two weeks. The workshop brings top violinmakers from around the world together to learn from each other. Here are a few photos from the first day of this year's workshop:

Celebration of Ole Bull in Bergen, Norway

Gregg is attending the Celebration of Ole Bull in Bergen, Norway, where his copy of the del Gesu "Ole Bull" violin is on display, along with 13 original late del Gesu violins (including the original Ole Bull) and other modern violins. Here are some photos from the event and from Ole Bull's house.

The old instrument expo room:

The original del Gesu "Ole Bull" violin (left) and the "Terminator" (right):

Ole Bull's house near Bergen:

Gregg and a distant grandson of Ole Bull at Ole Bull's house:

Violinmakers John Dilworth, Sam Zygmuntowicz and Gregg at Ole Bull's house:

A fjord near Ole Bull's house:

Ole Bull's bedroom with Soloman columns and ... yikes!

The view from Ole Bull's music room: