Caytie Beth Tedder

Jacksonville, FL

CAYTIE BETH TEDDER'S MOM, MICHELLE TEDDER, A VIOLIN TEACHER IN JACKSONVILLE FL, WROTE:

"Dear Jan,

"It has been such a pleasure to know you! I have sent many of my students to your shop over the years for instruments and repairs because I know they will be well taken care of. They always come back to their next lesson with a smile! So, when my own daughter began begging me to teach her to play too, there was no question in my mind where we would go. Every parent wants the best for their children, and I know that for violins, you are the best.

           "We made a special trip to Gainesville for her 6th birthday. I must tell you, your rapport with young children is amazing! Caytie Beth was so excited and you made her feel so welcome. I just can’t thank you enough. I have a whole new appreciation for you and your staff now that I have experienced you through my child’s eyes.

          "We absolutely love her 1/8 Kreisler 'Millennium Encore' violin. For such a little instrument it has an amazing sound!         

"My studio recital was the week after our purchase, and Catie Beth was insistent on playing her violin for it. So she gave her first violin recital (playing open strings pizzicato) just 6 days after receiving her violin!

            "I just can’t thank you enough for all you have done. Your integrity and attention to quality shines in all you do. You have brought such joy to so many musicians! I look forward to many more years of doing business with you."

Marisa Salatino

Dallas, TX

In 2007 Marisa Salatino from Dallas TX played the National Anthem on her custom violin from Jan to thousands for the opening of the Texas Rangers game on a Friday night. She had won this honor out of 180 contestants who had auditioned (trumpets, singers, violinists, etc). Her teacher, Nicolette Solomon, reported that Marisa was spectacular. Nicolette did the arrangement of the National Anthem for her, double stops and all.

Nicolette Solomon

Dallas, TX

Alec Flood,

West Palm Beach, FL

In 2007 Jan completed a 15.5-inch Helmut Dresdner viola for ALEC FLOOD from West Palm Beach, Florida.

For more information about these fine handmade violas, click here (then scroll right down to the viola section). The carved pegs (see pictures above) were specially made by Jan's friend in Sri Lanka, Satjar Satjajit.

Alec wrote to Jan: "I would like to thank you for everything you have done. Everyone loves my Helmut Dresdner viola. They all say it has a wonderful tone. My orchestra teacher thinks highly of it and is very happy I have it. My private teacher also is very happy that I have it and also comments on it unbelievable tone. It has given me much encouragement to continue playing the viola.

         "During my high school audition at Dreyfoos High School the three judges were very interested in my viola and where it was from and what model it was. Even when I went for District Solo and Ensemble the judge wrote that it was as if my viola was singing and that it had a beautiful warm tone. Thank you and Anna again for all you have done for me.

         "I hope to see you soon again since my teacher says thatI have grown and within a year I will need a bigger viola. She asked me if I could come back to see you again and I said, 'Definitely, YES!'I look forward to seeing you again very much.

         "You may use my letter and pictures on your website. I would like people to know what a great viola it is! - Love, Alec Flood."

Michael Ross

Durban, South Africa

Ashley Ross, a professional clarinettist and the father of Michael Ross, Jan's young violin customer in Durban, South Africa, contacted Jan in 2007 about a full-size violin for Michael. Jan recommended that a fine violin be specifically handmade for Michael. The Krystian Schaf violin was commenced in an associated workshop of Gainesville Violins and completed by Jan in his workshop at Gainesville Violins in The Magic Forest, Gainesville, Florida, USA. The violin was modeled after the famous 1735 "D’Egville" Guarneri del Gesu.

When the violin arrived in South Africa, Michael's father wrote: "You can't imagine how thrilled the young man is with his beautiful violin - he'll be performing on it for the first time in public this Wednesday (at a mass at school!) and has shown it off to all his closest buddies. The instrument is SO well suited to him. He has taken to it like it was 'made for him' (which in truth it was - at a number of levels), and the sound suits his personality very well. I sometimes wonder if the whole experience was not divinely orchestrated! Thank you, Jan. I can't thank you enough. Hopefully the pics reveal enough of our dear boy's enthusiasm. You can add him to your website as ANOTHER thrilled customer."

BELOW are pictures of Michael Ross and his violin:

Michael's Dad wrote later that Michael had passed his violin exams with flying colors and continued: "There was a comment on the quality of Michael's tone at every piece. Must be the lovely violin! I thank you again for providing our son with such a perfect instrument. We are so blessed." [Well, Jan knows all too well that a violin does not play itself and so he congratulated young Master Michael!]

MICHAEL ROSS WROTE:

"Dear Mr Van Rooyen, Thank you so much for my wonderful violin - it is great (actually more than great)! It has a beautiful sound and is so rich and deep on the G and D strings and so bright and sweet on the A and E strings. We have taken a few pictures of me and my violin and when the light catches it you can see all the shaded parts of the violin. I would like to thank you for all the extra bits and pieces that came with the violin. I would like to thank you for my beautiful Guarneri del Gesu which I am sure I will have many happy memories with. Yours sincerely - Michael Ross, Durban, South Africa."

MICHAEL'S FATHER, ASHLEY ROSS, EMAILED JAN ON 7/18/2008: "Can you believe it? Exactly one year ago today, I pushed the button to buy Michael's beautiful 4/4 D'Egville copy - and what an amazing thing that was! Michael continues to make progress and his sound seems to be getting bigger and more complex with each passing week. When he's playing, his absolute enjoyment is totally obvious, and, as we noticed at the time we first got the instrument, the sound matches Michael's personality completely. Just the other day he was playing some robust piece with sforzato chords, and I was amazed at just how rich and complex the sound was - and how beautiful the instrument looked in his hands. Well done, on matching instrument and player - and you haven't even met him! We can't thank you enough." [One of Jan's aims and joys is to match a player and a violin.]

Orlando Gabriel Aponte

Tampa FL

Orlando Aponte is a violist in the Patel Conservatory Youth Orchestra as well as in the Blake High School Orchestra in Tampa FL. In 2007 he bought some bows from Gainesville Violins and wrote:

"All I can say is that you guys are the best in terms of quality, prices, friendliness, trialing, repairs etc. Compared to others, you guys will do the job twice as well for half the price. I remember when you let me try out that brazilwood bow during the All-State convention ... you charged a mere $60 for it and yet it played incredibly well; I let other people use it and one kid exclaimed that it played better than his $2000 bow! The pernambuco bow I just recently got from you guys is simply outstanding. I can get literally any sound and any dynamic I want from my instrument now. Thank you for the bow and all of your services."

Justin Sutton

Boulder CO

Yun Han
Taiwan

YUN HAN (THEN 11 YEARS OLD) MOVED TO GAINESVILLE FROM TAIWAN IN 2006. SHE IMMEDIATELY BECAME PRINCIPAL CELLIST OF THE ALACHUA COUNTY YOUTH ORCHESTRA (see picture at right) AND WENT ON TO WIN THE STATEWIDE "FLORIDA AMERICAN STRING TEACHERS ASSOCIATION (FLASTA)" COMPETITION, WHICH ENABLED HER TO COMPETE AT NATIONAL LEVEL. HER FATHER WROTE (email 2006):

"Dear Jan,  I am glad to tell you a good news. Yun won the competition and got the privilege to represent Florida to join the national competition (http://www.flasta.org/). Yun asked me to thank for your encouragement giving her the confidence to win the competition. She wrote some sentences for you as following: ' Mr. Jan is so friendly and kindly person and treats me as his granddaughter. I like him very much!'  I was deeply touched by your kindness to my family, especially to my daughter. Thank you! Best regards - Jonathan."

YUN IS CURRENTLY BACK IN TAIWAN.

     Yun Han (2006)

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Yun rehearsing in the Gainesville Violins Russian Room. Yun concertrating and listening.

(Pictures taken in 2006.)

Clay Everett

Brooksville FL

Clay and Jan at
Gainesville Violins, 2007

Clay in performance

Clay and his cello

CLAY EVERETT got a fine Panis Angelicus 1/2-size copy of an Italian Ceruti cello from Gainesville Violins in 2007. His parents, Judith and Bob Everett, wrote (several emails): "Clay loved our visit. He was astounded at seeing Daniel work in the shop. He said he'd like to learn how to work on instruments one day. He truly appreciated the book that you gave him and he has been reading it every chance he gets.
        "Yesterday, Clay's teacher got a chance to see the cello that we got from you. She thought it was an outstanding instrument. We are all loving its amazing sound.
        "Clay's cello playing is improving daily with the new cello. We can all tell a difference. He recently had his little ceremony where he had to play his Suzuki pieces for his peers and teacher in order to move on to the next book and he sounded so good.
        "Again thanks for all your kindness and advice. We are so grateful for your help and we hope that Clay will make you very proud of him."

(Clay did. After the summer of 2007 he was appointed Principal Cellist of the Hernando Youth String Orchestra! Clay attends the Brooksville Chocachatti Magnet School for the Arts and Music and is a formidable FL State baseball player. Jan is VERY proud of him.)

Elizabeth Kitts

St Petersburg FL

The images at the far left shows the original Violon du Diable. To the right (2 pictures) is the copy that Jan and an Associate made especially for Elizabeth Kitts in 2006.

Jacob and Alyssa Keith

Valrico FL

Jacob Keith on the Gainesville Violins

"Hellier" Stradivarius copy.

JACOB KEITH plays on a Gainesville Violins violin inspired by the famous decorated 1679 "Hellier" Stradivarius in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC.
Jacob was Concertmaster of the Tampabay Youth Orchestra 2006-07 and was Principal Second Violin of the 2007 All-State Orchestra. He placed second in the 2006 FL State String Teachers Association's concerto competition, playing Bruch Violin Conc, 1st mvt.

Rehearsing in the Gainesville

Violins "Russian Room"

Competing in a 2006

concerto competition

Concertmaster Jacob in Carnegie Hall (June 2007).

In January 2007 Jacob could acquire a fine and rare famous antique violin worth $20,000.00. He chose to stay with his "Hellier", writing to Jan: "I liked the antique violin very much and probably would have bought it if only my current violin didn't have such an incredible sound. Playing on this fantastic old violin costing $20,000 really makes me appreciate the work you did on my own violin which cost $3,800. Your violins compete very well with instruments many times their value!"

Jacob manages the Tampa/St Petersburg branch of Gainesville Violins.

LATER IN JULY 2007 ALYSSA GOT HER OWN "EMANUEL FEUERMANN" 4/4 CELLO FROM GAINESVILLE VIOLINS, SPECIALLY PREPARED FOR HER BY JAN. SHE NAMED IT "ALADDIN" AND WROTE: "I am forever thankful for this new cello, which is my most favorite thing. Its crystal clear sound is soothing to listen to, which makes me never want to put it down. Even my brother's friends are impressed by it. I can't wait to show off 'Aladdin' at school. I cannot stop thanking you, Jan, just as I cannot stop playing!"

Alyssa Jouret

and Troy Hicks

Tampa FL

Jan with Alyssa
after helping her with her difficult decision.

LEFT:

Alyssa Jouret plays her beloved violin "for anyone who will listen". Here it is for her sister on the beach at Destin, FL!

TOP/RIGHT: Troy Hicks and Alyssa Jouret at Furman University (SC) Music Camp.

Both TROY HICKS and ALYSSA JOURET got their violins from Gainesville Violins. In the summer of 2007, they were selected to play in the “Honors Recital” at the Suzuki Camp at Furman University. Paul and Theresa Hicks wrote: "Troy loves the violin you prepared for him and also loves the special case that you suggested. We really appreciate the personal service you afforded us and will continue to 'sing your praises' to anyone that will listen."

ABOVE: Troy at Gainesville Violins.
RIGHT: Jan explains violins to Troy.

Kieron Reifsnider &
Grady Galbreath

Jacksonville FL

Back of Jan's "King
Maximilian Joseph".

[CONTACT JAN if you are interested in a custom-made copy of a famous instrument. Prices vary.]

FAR LEFT: Kieron in rehearsal with the Jacksonville Symphony
Youth Orchestra (2006).

LEFT: Maestro Scott Gregg, conductor of the JSYO, is also Kieron's private violin teacher.

LEFT AND TOP: Kieron and Scott Gregg in concert.

RIGHT: Kieron at home, happy with Jan's Strad copy.

FAR LEFT: Kieron and his student, Grady Galbreath (2007). LEFT: Grady with Kieron's old small-sized violin which Jan restored for him.Grady's dad, Bill Galbreath, wrote:

"Jan, Thank you for everything you've done. Grady can't stop talking about his visit to your place. I'm enclosing some photos of Kieron and Grady taken later when Grady got his violin back. His eyes were huge when he opened the case! Thank you again."

LEFT: Kieron Reifsnider at the Brevard Music Camp (BMC) in Brevard NC in July 2007.

RIGHT: Dinner with family, customers and friends at BMC July 2007: Anna, Jan (standing), Trevor, Kieron Reifsnider, Brian du Toit (standing), Alan Clark, James Chang and Sona du Toit.

KIERON SENT US THE FOLLOWING COMMENT IN MAY OF 2007: "For quite a while I had been in great need of a better violin to help me grow musically. Then Jan supplied me with this wonderful violin! He had been watching my progress for a number of years and knew how much a new instrument would help me. When I brought it home I couldn't sleep at night with it in my room, I was so excited. It was like having an old bike to ride and then being given a Ferrari. [Kieron eventually nicknamed the violin 'Ferrari'.] Forget the idea of a 'limited' warranty: Jan's custom-made instruments come not only with maintenance and complete satisfaction guaranteed for life, but also with a lifetime friendship. For me it was prayer answered. People continually compliment me on its tone and beauty. I am so thankful for it every time I play. This violin is helping me to get closer to my dream of being a fine artist. Thanks Jan! - Kieron Reifsnider."

Cassy and Ian Steptoe

Tampa FL

LEFT TO RIGHT : Cassy Steptoe tries out many different violins in the Russian Room. Jan thins and French-polishes a neck while Cassy watches. Cassy is very happy with her new thin-neck Panis Angelicus Stradivarius copy. (2006.)

The Steptoes wrote: "Thank you so much for Cassy's new violin. She played several concerts and solos this Christmas and New Year's season and did very well.   Cassy likes this new violin because it has a nice, bright and happy tone to it. She also likes the deep, rich red color and one-panel back. Thank you for your patience and for making every effort to get us the right violin. Thanks also to Jacob Keith, your Tampa/St Petersburg Associate, who was also very helpful and patient during our search for a new violin. We enjoyed the historical stories Mr Jan told us about the 'Messiah' violin. It made us appreciate Cassy's violin even more."

In June of 2007 Cassy's brother, Ian Steptoe, was big enough for a 1/2-size violin. Jan had restored for him a fine 1920's handmade Czechoslovakian violin with a huge, warm and dark tone - just what Ian wanted.

In these four pictures, Ian tries out the violin, admires its front and shows off its gorgeous back.

Ian is soooooooooooooo happy!

The youngest and the oldest customer 2006

LEFT:

Liam Duncan McCartney (Gainesville 2006, 2 years old) was not contented with a "cutting board violin" any more and had to get a real little 1/32-size "Antonio Vivaldi" violin of his own. He loves to hang out at Jan and Anna's workshop. He may well become a Paganini or a Stradivari one day!

ABOVE: Arthur Birdsall (Gainesville 2006, 96 years old) is Gainesville Violins's oldest customer. He practises and plays every day. Since he cannot come to the shop any more, Jan visits him in his room in order to service his violin regularly. Arthur also plays the keyboard (he likes the harpsichord sound and plays a lot of Scarlatti's) and composes, turning symphony movements into string quartets.

Janna Lower
Gainesville FL

Janna Lower.

Jeanne Majors
Jacksonville FL

Manolito and Cristina de la Puerta,
Gainesville FL

Manuel de la Puerta has been a Gainesville Violins customer since he started with violin lessons. In 2005, while visiting the town of Puerto de Vega in Spain, his grand-father gave him a magnificently carved violin made by Senor Magarini in 1991 in the same town. Lucky Manolito! Manolito is very serious about his violin playing. We at Gainesville Violins are honored indeed to have him and Cristina as highly esteemed customers and friends, and to take care of their violins.

Debbie Noxon,
Ocala FL

After Debbie bought a great-value-for-the-money Hans Otto Model 101 violin outfit (see our "Catalog" page), she wrote (email 2005): "Dear Jan, I just wanted to thank you so very much for spending so much time educating me this afternoon!  I love my violin and am amazed I have been able to play without my little strips of green tape!!!  I hope you don't mind if I email with questions from time to time as I move forward on this new journey. It was such a pleasure meeting you and listening to you. Thank you so very much, and I hope this is the beginning of a life-long acquaintance. Take care, Debbie Noxon."