Scenes from the American String Teachers Association 2015

Written by Laurie Niles
Published: March 21, 2015 at 9:14 PM [UTC]

Salt Lake City is home to one of the most important violin-making schools in the U.S. and arguably in the world, the Violin Making School of America. While walking around the ASTA exhibit floor, I was happy to spot luthier Peter Prier, founder of that school. I also tested out one of his instruments, made in 1971 and based on a 1741 Guarneri model -- smooth-playing and sweet-toned.

Violinist.com Editor Laurie Niles talks with luthier Peter Prier. She is holding a violin he made in 1971.

During the conference, I kept seeing large groups of high school kids -- that's because 16 orchestras came from all over the country to participate in the National Orchestra Festival. On Friday morning I saw Grandview High School Orchestra, directed by Alison Reifscheider, which had come from Aurora, Colorado to play. (The school belongs to the Cherry Creek School District, where I started violin in the public schools!)

Grandview High School orchestra, from Aurora, Colo.

The students played in Abravanel Hall, home of the Utah Symphony and right next to the Convention Center. The lobby has this stunning glass sculpture:

Abravanel Hall lobby

Back at the exhibit hall, I found violinist and pedagogue Endre Granat at the Shar booth, then he walked me over to Schirmer's display of his editions of Sevcik exercises and Heifetz arrangements.

Endre Granat and Violinist.com editor Laurie Niles

I was impressed with Sarah West's colorful display of Magic Rosin. Though each cake is mounted on a decorative base, the rosin itself is clear as glass because she puts no dyes, waxes or mineral oils in the mix, she said. A cellist herself, Sarah invented the rosin because she was looking for something "grippier."

Sarah West and her Magic Rosin

Here is Fan Tao, who invented D'Addario's "Kaplan" strings, which are meant to be powerful, projecting strings with more texture.

Fan Tao of D'Addario

CodaBow is the original carbon fiber bow, and I was pleased to meet one of its pioneers, bow designer and aerospace engineer Jeff Van Fossen. Responding to new travel restrictions imposed by the U.S. government for transporting items with elephant ivory, Madagascar ebony and certain kinds of Mother-of-Pearl, CodaBow has come up with "Global Bow" technology to use on most of their bow models, so that none will contain these restricted items. When owners send in the warranty, they will receive a "materials declaration" for the bow, which can be used when traveling.

Laurie holds a CodaBow, with bow engineer Jeff Van Fossen

Late on Friday, California teachers from north and south had a "meet and greet" where we met our colleagues from across the state. Here we are:

California ASTA teachers

Saturday morning I visited one of the busiest booths, Yamaha, where many high school students were testing Yamaha Silent Violins and other electronic instruments. Here I am with Jesús Florido and the Yamaha team:

The Yamaha team

I also dropped by the Southwest Strings booth, and I was tickled to find out that both of the gentlemen at the booth, Joaquin Tellez and Adam Rico, play in a Mariachi band!

The Southwest Strings booth, with Joaquin Tellez and Adam Rico

Bohdan Warchal, maker of Warchal Strings, came to ASTA from Slovakia, and here is his family, running the booth.

The Warchal family, of Warchal Strings

Luthier Dalton Potter was kind enough to take a look at my violin, which was getting a little quiet lately. I now know why: it's sick with a split in its center seam. Potter Violins was showing its violins, both full-size and fractional.

Luthier Dalton Potter of Potter Violins

And finally, a gathering of the media: Associate Publisher for The Strad, Alison Campbell; me; and Cindi Kazarian, Sales Director at Strings Magazine.

Alison Campbell, Laurie Niles and Cindi Kazarian

NEXT WEEK: Look on Violinist.com for more stories about the ASTA Conference pedagogy sessions!

You might also like:

• Violinist.com interview with Luthier Peter Prier
• Bowmakers and Music Industry Groups Begin to Address the Ivory Import Issue
• Otakar Sevcik's ultimate 'cheat sheets' for violin concertos and works"
• The Violinist.com Teacher Directory