HISTORY
I became interested in folk music in my late teens relating to my interests in alternative music. I studied traditional stringed instrument construction in New Westminster, B.C., and completed my first instrument, a classical guitar, in 1989 at the age of 19. My instructor was Michael Dunn, who builds mainly in the traditional Spanish system that he had in turn studied as an apprentice in Spain in the 1960's. Under his tutelage I studied for over two years and built ten instruments including resophonic guitars, a couple of Maccaferris and my first Irish Bouzouki. Concluding my training I moved on to work with Larrivee guitars for an additional two years. Here I honed my tool skills and production techniques. Indeed this was the other side of the coin compared to Dunn's style of building. Each has it's own merits. In combining these two schools I came upon my conception of lutherie that melded them both into one. After leaving Larrivee I set up as an independent luthier and have been surviving as such for over six years in Vancouver, B.C. In 1997 I moved to Hornby Island, still on the west coast, and a beautiful place to live. Much of my time has been spent in designing bouzoukis and guitars. Music is the mode of inspiration for me. Each July I volunteer my experience at the Vancouver Folk Festival as on-site instrument repairperson. The festival has been an immense influence on my perceptions of world music and expression. Some of my building projects have arisen from the impression of those weekends spent in musical paradise. I am also busy playing music with some friends on the island here in a world beat band called Nomad and also a pop-acoustic trio Sensus. |
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I live on St.John's Point road near Whaling Station Bay on Hornby Island, British Columbia with my wife Michelle, son Finnley and new addition Lily. Adding to the spectrum are 2 crazy dogs and sometimes a Bernese mountain dog named Cowboy. |
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Home Bouzoukis Guitars Citterns Mandolin Family Gypsy Jazz Guitars Other Instruments |
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