Violin Makers Association of
Arizona International
dedicated to the art of building string instruments

The Violin Makers Association of Arizona International (VMAAI) is a non-profit, educational organization founded, in 1958, to encourage and develop the art of violin making. The oldest violin making association in the United States, VMAAI now boasts members from all 50 states and many foreign countries. Violin makers, both accomplished and novice, and others interested in the art, are encouraged to join and participate in the various activities of the group. In addition to an annual convention and violin making competition, VMAAI sponsors a yearly workshop for violin makers that is open to members and non-members alike.
If there are questions not addressed on this web site, please feel free to contact any member of the Board of Directors.

Board of Directors

Membership Information

Members Web Sites

Convention

The annual Convention and Competition was held again at the Randolph Park Hotel (formerly the Clarion) in Tucson, Arizona, October 11-14, 2011. VMAAI is the oldest organizaation of its kind in the United States and the only violin making organization to hold an ANNUAL competition of new instruments. VMAAI welcomes new and veteran stringed instrument and bow makers to enter their newly made instruments in the competition

This year we had the great pleasure of welcoming Christopher Germain as judge of workmanship and varnish in the competition. Chris brings a wealth of violin making experience and operates his own violin business in Philadelphia. He has served as workmanship judge in high level violin making competitions, such as the 12th International Triennale in Cremona Italy in September 2009. He is the director of the annual Oberlin violin making workshop.

Below are links to Youtube videos from the 2011 convention, submitted by Steve Hanes.

Video 1.,An overview of all the playing competition

Video 2., A compilation of the awards ceremony from beginning to end.

Video 3., A short compilation of several videos from Chris Germain's class on Workmanship and Varnish.

Video 4., A compilation of the playing of the top six instruments in the Bob Wallace Competition.

If the videos won't open, copy the following link and paste it your browser:

vmaai.com/vmaaivideo.html

The Winners, 2011!

Names and scores will be published in the next Journal

The Journal

The VMAAI Journal is a monthly publication dedicated to keeping members informed about Association activities and providing informative, how-to-do-it articles on various aspects of violin making. Members are encouraged to submit material concerning unusual techniques that might be helpful to others as well as articles on the history of violin making and violin makers.
The Journal is the backbone of our organization and represents some of the finest information available for the experienced or aspiring violin maker. Some sample articles are presented here on the web.

"The VMAAI JOURNAL"

Workshops for Violin Makers, 2011

Evan Smith and Jon Peterson Workshop
Four single week sessions beginning April 18, 25, may 2 & 9 at the Inn Suites in Tucson, Arizona. Evan Smith and Jon peterson will be the primary instuctors. Contact either Evan,(208) 524-2803 or Bill Barnitz, (520) 574-9085 or check out their website at: fiddlehack

Zorn Stillin and Jim Robinson Workshop
Workshop will be held in Nottingham, New hampshire July 19-29. Primary instructors will be Zoran Stilin and Jim Robinson. See notice at: www.renstrings.com or phone (603) 679-1012 More information will be posted here as it becomes available.

For information about this site, contact:
John O'Neill, Webmaster

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Last update, 9/30/09