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.