Restoration Workshop

Jeff began his musical studies on violin at age 8. As a youth, visits to violin makers were a fascination for him and eventually he entered the Chicago school of Violin Making to pursue the craft under the tutelage of Tschu Ho Lee. While attending school, he also assisted conservator Dudley Greeley of Evanston and violin maker Marilyn Wallin in her Wilmette shop.

After graduation in 1985 he took a position with Shar in Ann Arbor assisting David Burgess in making new instruments and performing restorations. In 1988 he was asked to manage and direct Shar’s old instrument division. His stay with the company was seventeen years in total, the last eight as Vice President of Shar Fine Instruments. His time at the firm allowed him exposure to great players, many fine instruments and bows, and the opportunity to work and consult directly with gifted makers and restorers including Anton Smith, Mark Norfleet, Jerry Pasewicz and Oliver Radke.

In May of 2003, Jeff took his leave to work in his own studio in Ann Arbor. After 15 years in that location, he moved his shopfrom Ann Arbor to a historic building in the city of Tecumseh where he continues to offer restoration, appraisal, expertise, consultation and sales of old and contemporary instruments and bows.

Jeff is an accredited member of the Appraisers Association of America and the director of the Oberlin/VSA Summer Instrument Restoration Workshop. He also serves on the board of directors for the Chicago School of Violin Making and served on the board of the Violin Society of America as Vice President and Treasurer.