Alina Kostina
I grew up in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, then a part of the Soviet Union. My love of the violin was almost inevitable. When my dad asked the 6-year-old me which instrument I wanted to study, all my friends were studying piano, so I gave an entirely unacceptable answer. My dad said: "Surely you meant VIOLIN! What can be more beautiful?"
Indeed! I bravely played on a canary yellow violin made in the Moscow Furniture Factory #2 and a color matched bow, carved of the strongest oak and haired with the blackest of all hair.
I was fully convinced that violins came in two categories: those gloriously unattainable things made hundreds of years ago, or new ones made in factories with leftovers from a tank production. White bow hair clearly came from unicorns.
When I came to the US and learned the truth, my life changed forever. I never achieved greatness as a violinist, yet I still found a way to never part with the violin.
I owe a debt of gratitude to David Gusset in Eugene, Oregon, who dedicated years of his life teaching me the Cremonese style of violin making. I continue to learn by going to Oberlin workshops, working with colleagues and visiting the best private and state instrument collections around the world. I learn the most from my musicians, many of whom have become personal friends. My violins are in the hands of orchestra and chamber players, concertmasters of major orchestras, soloists and young students all over the world. The thought that my instruments can help advance someone's life goals and young careers is especially rewarding.
I live and work in the Seattle area, where my three dogs - Charlie, Jascha and Noah - provide a constant stream of comedy and valuable advice to get up and go for a walk.
Benjamin Ruth
Among the most highly regarded contemporary violin makers, Benjamin Ruth has been active in violin making for 50 years and concentrates on creating ideal instruments for today’s musicians with demanding careers. Mr. Ruth is committed to the highest standard of artistry in violin making, and is a leading participant and teacher at the Oberlin Violin Making Workshop, a highly regarded program where top notch makers from all over the world come together to exchange ideas and knowledge. Mr. Ruth is currently involved in the program's project of copying an exceptional Pietro Guarneri of Mantua violin. He also is a participant in similar professional development groups in Europe.
For over 30 years, he has concentrated exclusively on producing new violins, violas, and cellos for discerning artists. Having been awarded gold medals in three distinct Violin Society of America competitions, he has been designated “Hors Concours” and has served as a Judge for the VSA. He also received a top prize for tone at the most recent competition of the British Violin Making Association in London. Mr. Ruth served as a member of the jury at the 2024 prestigious Triennale competition in Cremona.
After graduating from the Violin Making School of America in Salt Lake City, Benjamin Ruth received advanced training with Rene Morel at Jacques Francais Rare violins in New York. He then established his own studio in Philadelphia in 1981. Mr. Ruth joined Reuning & Son Violins in Ithaca, New York, specializing in restorations, in 1989. When Reuning & Son Violins moved to Boston five years later, Mr. Ruth remained in Ithaca to focus on his own making. He established a studio in the Boston area in 2002 and currently lives and works on the North Shore in Swampscott MA.
Benjamin Ruth is a member of the America Federation of Violin and Bow Makers and the Violin Society of America. He also serves on the advisory board of the North Bennet Street school - one of the three violin making schools in the US.
Christian Schabbon
Christian Schabbon is a master of his craft whose career spans several decades.
His journey began with studies in Milan and Cremona, Italy, followed by a prominent role in London, where he served as workshop manager at a prestigious atelier.
He has spent the majority of his career at Reuning & Son Violins, where he is entrusted with the restoration of some of the world’s most valuable instruments, applying a philosophy of ethical and conservative craftsmanship.
He is also an award-winning violin maker, working from his studio in Milton, Massachusetts. He has received several awards from the Violin Society of America in recognition of the exceptional quality of his workmanship. His fine new violins are highly praised by professional musicians for their acoustic beauty and playability.
Many of the world’s leading soloists seek his expertise for sound adjustment and tonal optimization.