Les Maitres et Elèves par ordre alphabétique
Patrick ROBIN
Violin maker
Craft National Living Treasures 2000
Patrick Robin devotes himself to the making of violins, violas and cellos and to sound adjustments for an international clientele of professional musicians. He established himself in Angers in 1988. In 2006, he moved his studio to a villa facing the Loire River, a bright and inspiring site where he enjoys making his instruments and welcoming musicians.
His instruments are played by soloists and members of orchestras such as the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, The Volks Oper in Vienna, the Tonkünstler-Orchester Niederösterreich, the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, l’Opéra de Paris, l’Orchestre Philarmonique de Radio France, and chamber music ensembles such as the Jean Sibelius Quartet, Aron Quartet Wien, Zehetmair Quartet, etc.
In 1991 the 1st International Violin Making Competition of Paris awarded him two Gold Medals for violin and cello, together with “le Prix de l’Académie des Beaux-Arts” and “le Prix de la Fondation Marcel Vatelot”.
He has also received Gold Medals for a viola at the Mittenwald Competition in 1989 and for a cello at the Manchester Strad Cello Making Competition in 1994. He has served since on the juries of a number of international violin-making competitions.
Graduating from the Newark School of Violin Making in 1984, he received the “Royal Oakden Cup” for outstanding achievements. He then moved to Bremen to join an international team of restorers led by Roger Hargrave, where he repaired, adjusted and studied in depth some of the most outstanding Italian instruments of the classical schools.
Patrick Robin’s approach to violin-making is inspired by his in-depth study of these beautiful instruments. While creating copies of these instruments was for many years his principle approach to that study, current scientific research and the rediscovery of the principles underlying this art have allowed him to incorporate and interpret his acquired knowledge to create individual instruments of character with sound qualities and a freedom of style that flow from the very spirit of the masters he admires.
Sound production and musicality are, of course, at the very center of his work as a luthier. He cherishes the frequent exchanges he has with the musicians who play his instruments, and it is through these contacts with them that his work takes on its full meaning and his experience enriched. Musicians, in the same vein, find in Patrick a willing and attentive ear and a partner steeped in years of practical experience.
As a member of EILA (International Group of Luthiers and Bow makers) and ALADFI (Association of Luthiers and Bow makers for the Development of Instrument making), he is an active participant in fruitful discussions with fellow string makers, scientists and musicians about various topics currently being researched about the ancient art of quartet instrument making.
He has given lectures and taught courses at the British Violin Making Association at Dartington, at the Oberlin Violin-Making Workshop at Oberlin College in the United States, at ALADFI conferences, at the Santiago de Queretaro School of instrument making in Mexico, at the Australasian Violin Making Conference in Australia, at the Chinese Luthiers Congress in Shanghai, etc.
