Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Ordway Concert Hall

Mark your calendars and plan to join us for a special event with luthier Samuel Zygmuntowicz! This event will offer a unique opportunity to hear from one of the foremost stringed instrument craftsmen in the world.  Sam Zygmuntowicz, the maker of many SPCO principal string musicians’ instruments, will provide a demonstration of instruments as well as give insight into the creative process, all within the acoustically superior space of the new Ordway Concert Hall. Concertmaster Steve Copes and Associate Concertmaster Ruggero Allifranchini will join Sam on stage.

Following the discussion, there will be cocktails and light hors d’oeuvres served in the Securian Sky Lobby (Tier 2) of the Ordway Concert Hall. Don’t miss this unique way to experience our brilliant new concert space, as well as learn about the creation of these world-class instruments.

7:00 pm      Discussion, demonstration and Q&A
8:00 pm      Reception with refreshments and hors d’oeuvres from The Saint Paul Hotel

Event Tickets: $50/guest
To purchase tickets, please contact Ashley Sondergaard at [email protected] or 651.292.4314.

Thank you to our event sponsor:

 About Samuel Zygmuntowicz

Samuel Zygmuntowicz, Violinmaker, was already a prize-winning sculptor before beginning his instrument-making studies at age 13.

Since 1985 he has made instruments by advance commission for performers such as Cho-Liang Lin, Joshua Bell, Maxim Vengerov, Yo-Yo Ma, Leila Josefowicz, David Finckle and the Emerson String Quartet members.

A 1994 violin that he made for Isaac Stern set a record for the highest auction price paid for a musical instrument by a living maker. The Harper Collins book The Violinmaker documents his making of a violin for Eugene Drucker.

He is a graduate of the SLC Violinmaking School, and studied advanced making and restoration with Carl Becker and Rene Morel. His faithful copies of classic violins won early acclaim, and he has designed many personal models as well.

In addition to his extensive studies of traditional violinmaking, often featured in The Strad magazine, he has worked closely with acoustic researchers and is often on staff at both the Violinmaking and Violin Acoustics Workshops at Oberlin College. With Strad3D, he has brought together an inspiring group of scientists, violinmakers, musicians, filmmakers and designers.

He has presented his findings throughout the USA, including The Chamber Music Society Of Lincoln Center, the Juilliard School, Music@Menlo and La Jolla Chamber Music festivals, plus conferences including the American Society of Acoustics, Arts and Science at CUNY, and the E.G. Conference in Monterey CA, and presented internationally in Italy, Sweden, England, Belgium, Spain, Australia, and Canada, most recently at the Banff International String Quartet Competition.

Sam lives in Brooklyn, NY with his wife and two young sons, and still plays fiddle with a variety of performing folk music groups. His CD recordings include Grand Picnic and Jump When the Trumpets Blow.

The Violin Maker from Dustin Cohen on Vimeo.