About the Authors

Karl Roy

KARL ROY was for twenty years the Director of the Bavarian State School for Violin-making in Mittenwald, Germany, and a member of its faculty since 1960. A Master Violinmaker and craftsman, he has served as a judge at innumerable major international violinmaking competitions and is an active member of the International Society of Violin and Bow Makers. He is an author of the classic reference book, Jakob Stainer, Leben und Werk des Tiroler Meisters, 1617-1683 (1986) and a co-author with Dr. Alex Shigo of Violin Woods: a New Look (1983). From1973 to 2008 he taught at the Summer Violin Craftsmanship Institute at the University of New Hampshire.

Claire Curtis

CLAIRE CURTIS is a violin and bow maker and has worked closely with Karl Roy at the Summer Craftsmanship Institute. She served as Mr. Roy’s evening shop assistant in 2003 and 2004, and has participated in the VSA Oberlin Violin Set-Up, Acoustics, and Advanced Topics workshops. For additional information: www.CurtisViolins.com

Alvin Thomas King

ALVIN THOMAS KING is a violinmaker, researcher, and author. He worked closely with Karl Roy at the Summer Craftsmanship Institute for many years and served as Assistant to Mr. Roy in 2001 and 2002. He has published a number of articles and spoken frequently on his investigations into Cremonese graduation patterns and principles of Cremonese design relating to instrument outlines and f-hole size and location. For additional information: www.FiddleHeadStrings.com.