Simone Porter Demonstrates 33 Modern American Violins at Metzler Violin Shop (Plus Viola and Cello Demos)

March 18, 2024, 6:16 PM · Every year, it is my great privilege to see, hear and even get to try our some of the best violins and bows that are being made today by contemporary violin makers, thanks to Metzler Violin Shop's regular showcases. Last week, they held their seventh annual Contemporary American Violin and Bow Maker Exhibition and Sale, and I sat in the audience right alongside many of the makers themselves, as the up-and-coming violin soloist Simone Porter played 11 modern violin bows and 33 modern violins.

Here is the video from the Facebook live feed that Metzler presented (they are in the process of creating a higher-resolution video/audio - I'll replace the video here when it comes out!) Scroll down a little farther for videos from the viola and cello demonstrations. Note: all the demonstrations were done in alphabetical order, by the last name of the maker. See a list of all of the makers below.

BELOW: Violinist Simone Porter demonstrates 11 modern violin bows and 33 modern violins. A 2015 recipient of an Avery Fischer Career Grant, Porter has in recent years played as a soloist with the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic and many other orchestras. She normally plays a 1740 Carlo Bergonzi violin:

Porter really gave a little mini-concert for each instrument, playing a wide variety of pieces on them: Mendelssohn, Mozart, Bach, Korngold, Bruch, Sibelius, even a little Esa-Pekka Salonen piece in there! (I noticed, also, that she was using a Luna Korfkerrest shoulder rest as she played - I'm seeing a lot of these out in the wild!)

If you are particularly interested in a bow or instrument, you can find detailed information - including pictures, information on measurements and materials, details about the maker, and price - on Metzler's website: click here to view exhibition instruments, and click here to view exhibition bows.

BELOW: Violist Dimitri Murrath demonstrates 6 modern viola bows and 16 modern violas. A first-prize winner at the 2008 Primrose International Viola Competition, Murrath is the violist of the Esmé Quartet and is currently Professor of Viola and Chair of Chamber Music at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music:

BELOW: Cellist Clive Greensmith demonstrates 4 modern cello bows and 9 modern cellos. Greensmith was the cellistin the Tokyo String Quartet from 1999 until its final season in 2013, and he currently is a professor of cello and chamber music coach at the Colburn School's Conservatory of Music and the Music Academy.

Here is a list of all the violin, viola, cello and bow makers whose bows and instruments are featured in these videos - with some pictures of makers who were at the event, interspersed:

Dan Arlig
Charles Arsenault
William Atwood
Gervasio Barreiro
Dorian Barnes
Michael Becker
Jesse Berndt
Frederik Bethke
Andrew Carruthers
David Chrapkiewicz
Douglas Cox
Michael Daddona
Alysio de Mattos
Thomas Dignan
Anton Domozhrov
Joseph Dziaba

Cameron Robertson Michael Fischer Theodore Skreko Tom Metzler

Bowmaker Cameron Robertson of Atlanta, violin makers Michael Fischer of LA and Theodore Skreko of Indianapolis, and Thomas Metzler.

Fernando Fagundes
Michael Fischer
Carlos Funes
Eric Gagne
Shay Garriock
Marinos Glitsos
Todd Goldenberg
Lee Guthrie

Violinist.com's Laurie Niles and violin maker George Yu of Louisville, Ky.

Dirk Henry
Kurt Jones
Stanley Kiernoziak
Andre Lavoye
Abe Liebhaber
Stephen Lohmann
Jeff Lee Manthos
Steven McCann
Arlie Moran
David Morse
Humberto Nicasio
John Osnes

Laurie Niles with violin-making brothers Shahram and Saeid Rezvani.

Alkis Rappas
Alex Reza
Saeid & Shahram Rezvani
Anthony Rizzo
Cameron Robertson
Zacherie Rodrigue
James Ropp
Charles Rufino
Benjamin Ruth
Carrie Scoggins
William Robert Scott

Michael Fischer and cellist David Landau, who is learning violin-making with Michael, who made his cello.

Theodore Skreko
Darryn Smalley
Jason Starkie
Zoran Stilin
Timothy Summerville
Shahrokh Tumari
Alex Tzankow
Sofia Vettori
David van Zandt
Mason Weedman
Isabelle Wilbaux
Stella Eunbyul Yoo
David Russell Young
George Yu

Violinist Simone Porter and Violinist.com's Laurie Niles.

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Replies

Christian Lesniak

March 18, 2024 at 11:37 PM · I'm always curious, given how a violinist can sometimes spend years really figuring out an instrument, if there's something often left on the table in these kinds of demonstrations, whether it's that a violinist's playing style might favor certain instruments, the bow used, or other factors that can't be captured in such a small amount of time. I wonder if at violin-making competitions, certain makers ever feel like their instruments weren't able to show some of their secrets.

That's not at all a knock on Simone Porter, who is legit; I heard her give a great Mendelssohn a few years ago and hope she comes back to town.

Laurie Niles

March 18, 2024 at 11:41 PM · Christian, the really neat thing about this event is that afterwards, Metzler Violin Shop opened up their practice rooms and allowed people to try out the violins that interested them. About a half-dozen people were doing so, ranging from high school students, older amateur players and pros. Metzler also has the fiddles and bows around for three months, during which people can take them out on loan to try them. I feel that Metzler has come up with a really neat model for showcasing these violins and allowing people to get to know them. If you happen to be in the LA area (or can get there) then you have several months during which you could potentially find the right modern fiddle for you, or at least get started on that journey.

Christian Lesniak

March 19, 2024 at 05:06 AM · I guess I'll have to start saving up and take a trip ;-)

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