This workshop is the collaboration of two colleagues and, above all, friends who initially met at the École Nationale de Lutherie in Mirecourt, France.
After gaining valuable experience through several years in various workshops in Germany and the Netherlands, they have now chosen to merge their expertise at the Violin Making Workshop in Oberkassel.
Their aim is to provide you with a wide range of services and expert advice.
Restoration / Bows
Gaëlle Charroux
Music has always been a part of my life. I grew up in a family of musicians and began learning the violin and bassoon at a young age at the Conservatoire d'Angers (France).
My first exposure to a violin making workshop was when we needed to have an old family violin restored. I was immediately captivated by this profession.
Upon completing high school and earning a baccalauréat in economics and social studies, I was accepted at the École Nationale de Lutherie in Mirecourt, where I learned the art of violin making.
Following my graduation, I spent 5 years working with Lucienne van der Lans and Wout Bosma at their workshop in Dordrecht, Netherlands. Under their expert guidance, I not only perfected my skills in instrument restoration but also gained experience in bow maintenance.
Newmaking / Maintenance
I have always been passionate about classical music. As a child, I studied the viola at the Conservatoire d'Angers (France) and developed a fascination with instrument making.
The manual craftsmanship and musicality in this profession suit me very well.
I completed my baccalauréat in sciences and entered the École Nationale de Lutherie de Mirecourt.
Following my graduation from the violin making school, I embarked on a journey to gather diverse experiences in both France and Italy.
For more than three years I was employed in the violin making workshop of Zvi Dori in Hannover, specialising in the construction of new instruments.
After that I spent six months repairing violins at Philipp Lieberwirth's workshop in Hannover.