CHOstrings: the shop of Randall Hilgart

I make violins, violas, and cellos, and have spent the past decade developing my work as a violin maker, woodworker, and craftsperson. My background is in the arts and fine woodworking, and my early work focused on designing and making sculpture and clocks in blown glass and wood. That experience continues to inform my approach to instrument making, shaping my attention to form, proportion, materials, and handwork.

In 2017, I apprenticed with master violin maker Oded Kishony. Since then, Oded has continued to mentor me and support the development of my work, helping me refine both my making and my understanding of the craft.

My interests in violin making also extend to the design of tools and methods that support the making process. I am especially interested in the geometric design principles described by François Denis in Traité de Lutherie, and I draw on those methods in the design of my violins and cellos.

Alongside new making, I also provide repair and restoration services, with an emphasis on careful workmanship, structural integrity, and playability.