I really enjoy making cellos; to date I have made over 50. I’ve played the instrument since childhood, so it’s a special pleasure when the instrument is finished that I can try it and feel its response and character under my own fingers.
My aim is to make cellos which have a warm, rich expressive sound which projects well. I use a number of models including Francesco Ruggieri, G B Ruggieri and Stradivari.
I also have an interest in developing models for players with small hands, who find the left-hand stretch of a full-size cello difficult. For these players I offer small full-size models, usually based on Andrea Guarneri or G B Guadagnini.
My cellos are played internationally; by the co-principal of the Royal Philharmonic, members of the Hallé and Norwegian Radio orchestras, and by cellists in the UK, Sweden and Belgium. Two concerto finalists of the BBC Young Musician Competition performed on my cellos.
This video shows Jonathan Ayling, co-principal cello of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, playing Bach on his Michetschläger cello as part of the RPO’s #RPOatHome YouTube series filmed during the Covid-19 lockdown in May 2020.
