Victor Bernard

Bow Maker

Victor Bernard was born in 1985 near Paris, France. He studied at the International School of Violinmaking in Newark, England, graduating in 2008.
Fascinated by bow making, he joined the Maison Bernard in Brussels the same year. He worked alongside Pierre Guillaume, who taught him how to make and restore bows and passed on his love of old bows and expertise. He went on to apprentice with renowned bow-makers across Europe. In 2014, Victor joined the Flagey workshop in Brussels, where he works alongside luthier Joanne Van Bosterhaut. Victor is an organiser member of Ekho, an association created for the promotion of contemporary violin and bow making through exhibitions, concerts, and masterclasses.The Marcel Vatelot Foundation has awarded him a grant to help him develop his workshop and prepare for international bow-making competitions.He regularly takes part in international bow-making exhibitions in France, Germany, Italy, England, Ireland, the United States and Japan.

Awards :
-VSA Violin Society of America (2022 Los Angeles): Gold Medal – violin bow, Certificates of Merit- viola bow – cello bow
-Viola’s Paris 2019: Bow making First Price
-VSA Violin Society of America (2018 Cleveland): Gold Medal – Double Bass Bow, Certificates of Merit – Violin Bow – Viola – Cello
-International Bow making Competition Mittenwald, Germany (2018) : Silver Medal viola bow, cello bow
-VSA Violin Society of America (2016 Cleveland) : Certificate of Merit – violin bow
-Viola’s 2016: Coup de coeur de Geneviève Strosser
-VSA Violin Society of America (2014 Indianapolis) : Certificate of Merit violin
-International Bow making Competition Mittenwald, Allemagne (2014) : Gold medal viola, bronze medal cello
-Violoncelle en Seine, Paris (2012) : Certificat de Finalist