Christopher Thorp

From his workshop in Long Island City, New York, Chris makes and restores violins, violas, and cellos.  He received his training in violin making at the London Guildhall University, under the guidance of Shem Mackey, graduating in 2000.  He has spent the subsequent years gaining valuable experience in the field. Chris first worked for J P Guivier of London where he worked for 8 years, then in New York, where he was offered a position with Christophe Landon at his workshop near Lincoln center.

During this time, he has been able to study and restore instruments made by the leading exponents of violin making through the ages.  It is this breadth of knowledge and experience that informs his work both in the making of his own instruments and also the sensitive restoration and set up of older ones.

As a violinist, Christopher knows the importance to a musician of an instrument and bow that work to produce the best possible sound.  By working with many fine musicians he has come to understand the processes that achieve this result and that enable musicians to perform to the best of their ability.