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| Tel: (09) 630 8421 |
Fax: (09) 630 8426 |
Email: info@stringedinstrument.co.nz |
Our opening hours are:
Monday to Friday 8.30am - 5.00pm
Saturday 9.30am - 1.00pm
Meet our Staff...
Gavin
Macalister
A talented violin maker, Gavin has brought
a truly international skill and perspective to the Stringed Instrument
Company. Originally from Cape Town, he trained at the Newark School
of Violin Making. His ability and application won him a job with
the long-established and highly regarded London firm of Edward
Withers, where he worked for a number of years under Dietrich
Kessler and Adam Whone, eventually heading the workshop team.
Gavin arrived in Auckland in 2003. With over 31 years experience
as a luthier, he has contributed hugely to our expertise in all
areas of making, restoration and appraisal, including baroque
set up.
Cath
Newhook
Having trained as a professional violinist
at the Auckland University Conservatorium of Music, Cath took
up an apprenticeship as a violinmaker with The Stringed Instrument
Company Ltd in 1977. She has also trained internationally, with
Vahakn Nigogosian at Oberlin, and with restorer Christoph Gotting
of Beares, London, in Australia.
Cath's specialty and passion is restoration work. She frequently
performs as a violinist, and also taught violin for many years,
which means she brings experience and expertise from a variety
of perspectives to her work at The Stringed Instrument Company
Ltd.
Annette
Voll
We are delighted to have Annette back
in a part-time role as a luthier. After training at the Mittenwald
Violin Making School, she worked in Holland for the violin maker
Willem Bouman before coming to New Zealand, first to the workshop
of Noel Sweetman before joining The Stringed Instrument Company
full-time for over 4 years. She then returned to Germany to complete
her Masters certificate in violin making. A further 7 years work
in Holland at the Max Moller violin shop in Amsterdam, and with
Ulrike Wiebel in Leiden has more than confirmed her abilities
as a wonderful violin maker and highly skilled restorer. Annette
is also focusing on her own career as a violin maker and as a
specialist in baroque set up.
Louise Evans
Louise is 'front of house' for the Stringed
Instrument Company, assisting customers, managing the showroom,
dispensing jellybeans and running the office. Having worked previously
for the Historic Places Trust and the Depot Artspace, she has
also studied traditional arts in in the wild north of Sweden.
She has been playing violin since she was seven, and currently
plays a number of folk styles, including Cape Breton, Quebecois
and Scandinavian. Other interests include cycling, organic gardening
and swing-dancing...
Marjorie Newhook
Marjorie masterminds the instrument hire system
- coordinating the hundreds of violins, violas and cellos of all
sizes in the company hire fleet - with organisational expertise
gleaned from many years working in legal management and administration.
Alan Mayo
Alan is Cath's husband and is also a director
of the company. Coming from an international computer business
background, it is his job to drag violinmakers into the 21st century
and help them to adapt to modern technology.
Saturday Staff
Dennis
Liu
Dennis is a graduate from the University
of Auckland, holding an MA in Screen Production. He is a singer-songwriter
and comes from a background in violin and orchestral playing,
holding an ATCL in violin performance. His interests lie in graphic
novels, narrative lyric-writing and design.
Alex Laubli
Alex Laubli was born and grew up in Switzerland.
In 1995 she moved to New Zealand and it was here that she learned
to play the violin. She is a member of and regularly performs
with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra. Alex also enjoys playing
chamber music, Tango and Gypsy fiddle. When she’s not dedicating
her time to music she’s working as an artist in various media.
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