Southern Violin Association
association of violin makers in the Western Hemisphere

Bulletins

BULLETIN - JANUARY 2021

ANNOUNCING THE 3RD BIENNIAL

VIOLIN MAKERS' COMPETITION

SPRING 2021


****WITH LIVE STREAMING****


PREPARE YOUR ENTRIES FOR OUR THIRD BIENNIAL

OPEN INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN MAKERS COMPETITION

OUR TARGET DATE IS FIRST OF MAY, 2021, IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A.

THE SOUTHERN VIOLIN ASSOCIATION IS PREPARING TO HOST ITS THIRD COMPETITION AROUND THE FIRST OF MAY 2021. IT WILL BE HELD IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA.


WE ARE CURRENTLY PLANNING TO LIVE STREAM MOST OF THE COMPETITION WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO DISCUSS THE PROCESS WITH MEMBERS AS THE JUDGES GO THROUGH THEIR ROUTINES.



ALL ENTRIES WILL NEED TO BE DELIVERED NOT LATER THAN FOUR DAYS BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE CONFERENCE. THIS COMPLIES WITH RECOMMENDED COVID-19 GUIDELINES FOR THE LIFESPAN OF THE VIRUS ON WOOD AND MOST RELATED OBJECTS. THIS ALLOWS THE JUDGES TO HANDLE THE INSTRUMENTS.


  1. THIS WILL BE VIOLINS AND VIOLAS ONLY

  2. INSTRUMENTS MUST BE LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD

  3. A MAXIMUM OF TWO INSTRUMENTS MAY BE ENTERED IN THE COMPETITION. THEY MAY BE IN THE SAME CATEGORY (I.E. TWO VIOLINS OR TWO VIOLA) OR SPLIT - ONE VIOLIN AND ONE VIOLA.

  4. OTHERWISE RULES FROM LAST COMPETITION REMAIN THE SAME,

  5. INSTRUMENTS MUST BE OWNER-INSURED. WE WILL HANDLE THEM WITH THE SAME CARE WE WOULD DEVOTE TO OUR OWN INSTRUMENTS, HOWEVER THE ASSOCIATION TAKES NO LIABILITY FOR INSTRUMENTS LOST, DAMAGED, OR DESTROYED.


IN ADDITION TO FIRST, SECOND, THIRD PLACE AWARDS IN BOTH WORKMANSHIP AND TONE, WE WILL ALSO AWARD A NOVICE AWARD TO THE HIGHEST RATED VIOLIN AND VIOLA SUBMITTED BY A "NOVICE" MAKER (HAVING COMPLETED NO MORE THAN TEN INSTRUMENTS AT THE TIME OF THE COMPETITION.)


THERE WILL BE A SOUTHERN MAKER AWARD GIVEN TO THE HIGHEST RATED VIOLIN AND VIOLA SUBMITTED BY A SOUTHERN MAKER (SEE RULES).


SHIPPING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE IN THE COMING WEEKS, BUT YOU SHOULD BE PREPARED TO HAVE YOUR ENTRIES COMPLETED BY EARLY APRIL.


JUDGES FOR WORKMANSHIP WILL INCLUDE JAIME GONZALES OF MEXICO, FIRST PLACE WINNER IN OUR 2019 COMPETITION. TONE JUDGES WILL COME FROM THE ATLANTA SYMPHONY, AND WILL LIKELY INCLUDE OUR OLD FRIEND, JUAN RAMIREZ, TONE JUDGE FOR OUR PREVIOUS TWO COMPETITIONS. WE ARE STILL WORKING ON VENUE AND JUDGING STAFF.


LET US KNOW IF YOU INTEND TO SUBMIT ENTRIES BY NUMBER AND TYPE -- PLEASE EMAIL THE COMPETITION COMMITTEE. THIS WILL HELP US WITH OUR PLANNING.


We will post updates and more information over the coming months on our webpage. Click here for Website

BULLETIN #20

UPDATE ------------- MAKERS’ COMPETITION 2017

The Southern Violin Association is having its first ever Violin Makers’ Competition to be held at Wild Acres Retreat, just outside the village of Little Switzerland in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. The competition is for violins only (this first time anyway) and is open to anyone. Here is a link to a map to Wild-acres Retreat At this time we’ve got over a dozen entries, and I’ll be going to the VSA next week to spread the word and hand out leaflets. I have International Violin Company putting leaflets in their shipments, as well as Howard Core Company, and Metropolitan Music, so I think there will be at least 50 instruments.

The conference will be held at Wild-acres Retreat. This is a very special place, being somewhat rustic and remote, very different when compared to VSA’s grand hotel atmosphere. This will be a lot more personable, and I think, memorable as it will be entirely focused on violin-making, without distractions of televisions and internet activities. You’re evenings will be preoccupied with bon-fire, beer kegs, wild tales, show and tell, and some live music. We have booked 20 rooms that accommodate 40 persons. Accommodations for one at the Retreat will cost $275 and includes 3 nights stay, and 8 meals. These are double occupancy rooms, with 2 separate beds, and a private bath. If you wish to stay alone, there will be a surcharge, as the Association has to pay for 40 beds, whether we use them of not, so the only way to make this work will be for everyone to share. When you make your reservation to attend I’ll read off a list of who’s already booked but not yet paired up, so you can decide who you might be willing to share with. We encourage you to stay on site, as there will be a lot going on, all day and through the evenings, so even though sharing a room might be a little inconvenient, the payoff is huge in terms of convenience, and comrade-ship. We will try to accommodate anyone’s preference so let us know what those are. Here is a link to Wildacres Retreat’s web site. http://www.wildacres.org/

PLEASE LET ME KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IF YOU INTEND TO COME TO THE CONFERENCE, IF YOU’LL BE STAYING ON SITE AT THE RETREAT, AND HOW MANY INSTRUMENTS YOU THINK YOU MIGHT BRING. This will help me a lot in my planning.

Prizes and support are being provided by our sponsors --HOWARD CORE COMPANY, INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPANY, AND METROPOLITAN MUSIC. There will be door prizes, and giveaways for participants.

Judging staff will include Mr. Christopher Germain, Kelvin Scott, John Montgomery, Pablo Alfaro, Alex Shlifer, and members of the Charlotte Symphony.

There will be both Tone and Workmanship medals, and there will also be a special award for a “novice” maker that scores highest from among those competitors that have yet to complete 10 violins. Violins cannot be more than 5 years old, and must never have earned an award in another competition. (For more on “rules” go to Competition Link

If not staying off site, check out Alpine Inn, or Big Lynn Lodge.

If you’re bringing instruments to compete, please have them at the retreat Thursday, April 20, between 3pm and 10pm, as judging will begin the next morning.

If you’re shipping an instrument, be sure to read the instructions on the website at http://southernviolinassociation.com/Southern_Violin_Association/Competition.html

I’m thinking we might have a second meeting later in the year, perhaps September, very informal, no business, no special guests, so I’m looking for y our input to do something simple:

  • Charlotte?
  • Atlanta?
  • Greenville/Spartanburg?
  • Interested in putting on some sort of seminar or panel discussion?
  • Interested in hosting?
  • Shall we also have a “makers’ choice” award again, like we did a couple years ago?

FINALLY, AND I’m glad you’ve read this far, I’m heading to the VSA on Sunday the 13th of this month, and coming back Thursday the 18th. I’m looking for someone that might be interested in sharing the ride. I’ll be leaving from the Asheville area going up I-40, and I-77 through WVA. I’d be happy to take a rider up and back just for the help driving, and I’ll take care of the gas. If you don’t mind driving up to Asheville, that would be great.

David Chandler

President, Southern Violin Association

828-675-0449

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