Eric Gagne

Bow Maker

As a lover of music, an admirer of fine materials, and as one who has always been fascinated by those with manual expertise, Eric Gagne naturally embraced the métier of bowmaker.

He first worked for several years for Blaise Emmelin in France, and after in Brussels at “Maison Bernard” for Pierre Guillaume. Then for eight years, he shared a workshop with Isabelle Wilbaux in Montréal. He now has his own his workshop in Sherbrooke, where he makes his bows.

Eric also collaborates with Wilder and Davis workshop, for whom he restores bows everywhere in Canada. He is a member of the prestigious American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers, and the“Entente international des luthiers et archetier”. He is also a founding member of the Maker’s Forum, an organization dedicated to the promotion of Canadian contemporary violin and bow makers.

The joy of playing, the exploration of sound, artistic creation: these are among the many principles that now guide his work.

Awards:

• Two Certificates of merit at the International Violin and Bowmaking Competition for a violin bow and for a cello bow, VSA, 2018.

• Two Certificates of merit at the International Violin and Bowmaking Competition for a viola bow and for a cello bow, VSA, 2016.

• Two Certificates of merit at the International Violin and Bowmaking Competition for a violin bow and a cello bow, VSA, 2014.

• «Certificat de Finaliste» for a cello bow at the International Competition of Cello and Bowmaking, VioloncellenSeine, Paris 2012.