0161 972 0839 helen@helenviolinmaker.com

Helen Violin Maker

modern violin maker

  • About
    • About Helen
  • Work in progress
  • Workshop
    • Violins
    • Violas
    • Small size violins and violas
    • Cellos
    • Commissioning an instrument
    • Rental
    • Currently available
    • Instrument blankets
    • How to look after your instrument
  • Talks and articles
    • Talks and articles
    • Helen’s blog
    • Violin Varnish book
  • Contact

Work In Progress

340: 14 1/4 inch (33.7cm) cornerless viola 2023

13th March 2023

There’s a lot of demand at present for my smaller rental violas, which offer a true viola sound and response for younger players and adults alike. This one is already earmarked for a talented young player, for when she outgrows the 13 1/4 inch viola her family is renting from me at present. I’ve started …read more

339: Violin based on Antonio Stradivari 1734 ‘Habeneck’ 2023

11th February 2023

I’ve made this violin model regularly over the last few years; it reliably produces a powerful and rich sound with a warm G string and sweet A. A friend of one of my cello customers came to see the last one I made before its new owner collected it, and I’m happy to say she …read more

338: 32cm cornerless viola 2022

26th January 2023

A little while ago I had an interesting call from Stella, a viola player and teacher from Switzerland. Alongside her teaching practice she’s working on a dissertation, which has set her thinking more and more about the quality of her pupils’ instruments.   She wondered if I had ever made a viola the same size …read more

337: 16 1/4 inch (41.2cm) viola based on Antonio Stradivari 1672 ‘Mahler’, 2022

12th November 2022

I have been intrigued by this early Stradivari viola for some while; it’s a rarity in his output, the only one made to this model, and unusually with a poplar back. I’ve heard it played by Antoine Tamestit on recording and been blown away by the expressiveness of the sound. During last year’s lockdown I …read more

336: 14 1/4 inch (33.7cm) cornerless viola 2022

3rd September 2022

I’ve been busy making these small violas for some time. This one is for my rental scheme, for a player who will soon be moving up from one of my smaller violas. This one is the same size as a full size violin, great for young players or for violinists who want an instrument that …read more

335: Violin based on Antonio Stradivari 1734 ‘Habeneck’, 2022

3rd September 2022

I’m pleased to have the chance to revisit one of my favourite violin models, one of the last instruments from the Stradivari workshop, in fact probably made by Antonio’s son Francesco. This is the fourth time I’ve made it; the model always delivers a rich and powerful instrument with a lovely warm G string. This …read more

334_15 inch two-cornered viola 2022

18th June 2022

This is one of the standard models I make for rental; it’s the perfect size for teenagers before they are ready for their forever viola. I’m making this one for my rental scheme, and it is already destined for a young player who has been happily using one of my 14 1/4 inch cornerless violas …read more

333: 15 1/4 inch (38.6cm) viola based on John Betts 1786, 2022

8th June 2022

This viola is a commission from a student at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. She has the original Betts viola on loan from the Benslow Loan Scheme and it suits her physically very well, so we decided just to make a viola based on that, rather than one of my usual models. …read more

332_15 inch two-cornered viola 2022

6th April 2022

New year, new viola… This is one of my own designs of viola, which I’ve made regularly over the last twenty years. it’s been a very successful model, delivering an excellent quality of sound with a small and manageable size and light weight, perfect for young and not-so young players! This one will join my …read more

331: 15 inch (38cm) viola based on 18th century English instrument, 2021

17th December 2021

I’m pleased to revisit this viola, having already made this model as a commission earlier in the year. I was happy with the rich, warm sound it made and so were some of the players who saw it. One of these players has been hiring my small violas for several years, and is now ready …read more

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 5
  • Next Page »

Get in Touch

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Site Links

  • Violins
  • Violas
  • Cellos
  • Commissioning an instrument
  • Instrument rental
  • Instrument blankets
  • How to look after your instrument
  • Contact Helen Michetschläger

Contact Helen

1A Grasmere Road
Sale
Manchester
M33 3QU
UK

helen@helenviolinmaker.com
Visit Helen on Facebook

0161 972 0839
0044 161 972 0839

Latest from Helen

340: 14 1/4 inch (33.7cm) cornerless viola 2023

There's a lot of demand at present for my smaller rental violas, which offer a true viola sound and … Read More...

Copyright © 2023 Helen Michetschläger · Privacy Policy · Site Map

Fernandes Creative