My violinmaking journey started long before my first violin was built.  One day, according to my Father, when I was somewhere between 6 and 8 years old, I saw and heard a violin on TV, and immediately felt a feeling of excitement. I pointed at the TV, and then excitedly asked my Father, “what’s that!?”  And so it was fate that violins would become a significant part of my life.  I started playing violin at age 8, and the rest is history.  

Much later on, I discovered the world of antique violins.  I would soon come up with the crazy idea to buy and fix old violins and sell them, and use the profit to help out local orchestra programs after noticing that many local schools didn’t have orchestra programs, or that strings programs in the local area were very neglected.   This idea fell through for many reasons, but it eventually led me down the path to open up a violin shop in Augusta, GA, after partnering with Nathaniel Bruner, an Augusta native.  

With my new-found role as a violin shop owner, I was forcefully thrust upon the daunting yet intriguing world of violins.  I would soon play the role of executive, luthier, mentor, violin teacher, janitor, accountant, historian, among even other roles.  I’d come to find that there are so many intricate and interesting aspects to the world of stringed instruments.

To give back to the community and to show my gratitude for those who helped support the business, for several years I offered free violin lessons to as many people as I could acceptably manage.  This included everyone from the very young to the old and wise.  

Ultimately I was led to the world of violinmaking and lutherie (violinmaking can also encompass the making of violas and cellos).  Here I have found a true passion.  Initially, I was self-taught, where I primarily used Peter Prier’s method of violinmaking, but sought guidance and inspiration from many other violinmakers and violinmaking resources as well.  

I furthered my studies under the internationally-known violinmaker from South Africa, Brian Lisus, who has since moved to California.  Brian Lisus specializes in the making of new instruments, especially cellos, and attended the Newark School of Violin Making with many of today’s biggest names in violinmaking, such as Roger Hargrave, John Dilworth, Julie Reed Yeboah, and more.  He was among the first group of violinmakers to attend the Newark School of Violinmaking.  He is the creator of the Quartet of Peace, and a video is available on YouTube that follows the construction of the instruments of the Quartet of Peace all the way to their international concert tour. 

From the beginning I realized I wanted to do something unique with my violins and something that also represented, in a quiet way, my faith in our loving God. I somehow was inspired to inscribe the Psalms on my violins, even though at the time I didn’t even really know why I wanted to. Now I do, as they are inherently musical in nature, and I regard them as among the most beautiful spiritual poetry ever created to praise our God.