|
The Catgut Acoustical Society Library |
| File #: | A5120 |
| Name: | American Society for the Advancement of Violin Making |
| Dates: |
| See also: | V7988 - VSA |
| General Information: |
| The idea for this society came from Dr Albert Kaplan, a retired psychologist, who had contacted a group |
| of his friends, including Mr Sidney Fox, an engineer with Bethlehem Steel and an avid chamber music |
| player. It is reported that their initial meeting was in the shop of William Moennig & Son. Fox, who had |
| purchased one of Hutchins violas, wrote to her in 1971 at the Catgut Acoustical Society suggesting that |
| we meet with Kaplan to discuss the need for such a society. This meeting at 112 Essex Avenue resulted |
| in Fox and Hutchins making a survey of the violin making schools in both the USA and abroad. Hutchins |
| felt that such a school should be connected with a broader education than just violin making as is the |
| case in both Cremona and Mittenwald. Kaplan wanted a separate school. After several more |
| discussions and efforts to locate possible sources of funds, Kaplan and his group decided to found the |
| American Society for the Advancement of Violin Making. The information in this file gives a brief |
| survey of this development and the subsequent change in name to the Violin Society of America. |
| File Contents: |
| A5120 | -- | 102 |
| Miscellaneous: ASAVM flyers; business cards and brochures of makers; list of makers; competition |
| announcements (one noting the change of name of ASAVM to Violin Society of America); Review |
| of Goodkind's book on Stradivari by Nick Stamon; 2 news bulletins (1975) of ASAVM. |
| Key Words: |