The Stamford shop team
Introducing you to our expert luthiers working in house at Stamford Strings, with complementary skills and talents.
Libby summers
Founder and Director of Stamford Strings, Libby Summers graduated from The Newark School of Violin Making in 2020 after four years of study. Prior to this she had a successful career as a knitwear designer and is a published author. As well as being trained in repairs, restoration, making and bow repairs, Libby is a violin teacher with over 20 years experience. Her depth of understanding of the instrument and student requirements enhances her making and servicing skills, and her ability to respond to client's needs and expectations.
Libby will turn her hand at anything in the workshop to meet customer requirements but her special strengths are set ups and retouching. She particularly enjoys fitting new pegs, cutting bridges and making repair work disappear with her artist's palette. She also currently carries out all the shop bow repairs and repairs.
Libby will turn her hand at anything in the workshop to meet customer requirements but her special strengths are set ups and retouching. She particularly enjoys fitting new pegs, cutting bridges and making repair work disappear with her artist's palette. She also currently carries out all the shop bow repairs and repairs.
carlos libreros
Carlos Libreros joined the International Violin Making School in Newark in 2013 which he graduated from in 2017 with an upper level distinction. During his studies he gained further practical experience working for numerous experienced Luthiers, before undertaking full time employment at the workshop of Roger Hansell. During his time there, he developed a passion and flair for the art of copying old Italian instruments.
Carlos now works part time as a luthier at Stamford Strings and at his own workshop the rest of the time making instruments to commission. He enjoys working on set ups and sound adjustments. He has successfully undertaken several major violin and cello restorations for us, and has just finished a viola which is now for sale in our shop.
Carlos now works part time as a luthier at Stamford Strings and at his own workshop the rest of the time making instruments to commission. He enjoys working on set ups and sound adjustments. He has successfully undertaken several major violin and cello restorations for us, and has just finished a viola which is now for sale in our shop.
Nigel melfi
Nigel trained at Newark School of Violin Making for four years, graduating in 2004 with an Upper Merit.
For fifteen years prior to attending the Newark School of Violin making he was employed by charities as a care and project worker for people with different ranges of disability. During this time, he developed his craft skills at home, making & repairing a variety of wooden & metal items and tools. This led him to take up a post in a professional violin workshop in Newbury, Berkshire, owned and run by Philip Brown. Through his guidance, he learnt to set-up and do basic repairs on instruments of the violin family and was encouraged to study at Newark.
Upon graduating from there, he set up his own workshop at home, where he lives with his wife and four children. He has sold many instruments mainly through London shops and Philip Brown in Newbury. In 2018 he was accepted into the Cremona 'Triennale' Violin Making Competition, where he submitted a violin and a viola. Both instruments achieved a high mark. As well as being a maker, Nigel has long been involved in the education of new makers. He worked as a technician for many years at Newark work before becoming a teacher at the Newark School of Violin Making and currently leading the Foundation Year.
He is inspired by the classic Cremonese makers of long ago and produces meticulous and refined work. Over the last fourteen years his practice has led him to specialises in specific models of instrument; violins in the style of Stradivari, Amati and Guarneri and violas in the style of Benjamin Banks, Guadagnini and A. Guarneri.
We currently have two of Nigel's violins for sale in the shop.
For fifteen years prior to attending the Newark School of Violin making he was employed by charities as a care and project worker for people with different ranges of disability. During this time, he developed his craft skills at home, making & repairing a variety of wooden & metal items and tools. This led him to take up a post in a professional violin workshop in Newbury, Berkshire, owned and run by Philip Brown. Through his guidance, he learnt to set-up and do basic repairs on instruments of the violin family and was encouraged to study at Newark.
Upon graduating from there, he set up his own workshop at home, where he lives with his wife and four children. He has sold many instruments mainly through London shops and Philip Brown in Newbury. In 2018 he was accepted into the Cremona 'Triennale' Violin Making Competition, where he submitted a violin and a viola. Both instruments achieved a high mark. As well as being a maker, Nigel has long been involved in the education of new makers. He worked as a technician for many years at Newark work before becoming a teacher at the Newark School of Violin Making and currently leading the Foundation Year.
He is inspired by the classic Cremonese makers of long ago and produces meticulous and refined work. Over the last fourteen years his practice has led him to specialises in specific models of instrument; violins in the style of Stradivari, Amati and Guarneri and violas in the style of Benjamin Banks, Guadagnini and A. Guarneri.
We currently have two of Nigel's violins for sale in the shop.
our makers and restorers
Introducing you to our expert luthiers working with Stamford Strings remotely or listing their instruments in our shop. We work with the best makers and restorers from around the world, including exciting and upcoming makers.
Roger rosa
Roger works remotely mainly on the servicing and repairs of guitars. Roger has had a lifelong passion for stringed instruments, growing up with musical siblings and performing on violin, guitar and piano from an early age. His fascination with how they function and what makes a good instrument, combined with a keen longstanding interest in woodwork, made it seem a logical decision for him to pursue a career in luthiery. He thus enrolled at Newark College in 2011, graduating from the guitar school in 2013, and the violin school in 2020 with First Class Honours.
On occasion he finds the time when not tinkering with or constructing instruments to actually play them, performing on guitar with a jazz band and deputising in various ensembles reflecting his diverse musical interests.
On occasion he finds the time when not tinkering with or constructing instruments to actually play them, performing on guitar with a jazz band and deputising in various ensembles reflecting his diverse musical interests.
Peter smith
Peter Smith apprenticed at Ealing Strings of London in 1978 at 16 years old and apprenticed as a restorer working on classic Italian and English instruments among others. He then started violin making before enrolling at the the Newark School of Violin Making in 1985 to study and become a Viola /Cello Maker . After graduating, he moved to Manchester as a Restorer and Maker, specialising in violas for members of the Halle orchestra, including the lead Viola player, among others. At that time, he based his model on an Italian Maker, Andrea Guarneri, and over the coming years modified the instrument for size and to meet the requirements of contemporary playing and acoustic response.
Later in his career, he became a Teacher at the Newark School of Violin Making and Restoration and is currently the course leader and has his own workshop outside Newark in a small village . He still specialises in violas, and the current model he makes is of his own design, whilst maintaining the influence of the Guarneri model, combined with Stradivarius' models and English makers such as Forster and Parker, modernised to meet the requirements of the current time. His new model reflects his extensive experience and many of the concepts he developed over time, including current viola making within the trade, reflecting the requirements of the player, but in his own inimitable style.
Stamford Strings is delighted to have been commissioned to sell one of Peter’s violas. It is designed to have large lush deep sound with strong projection and has an aged finish with some simple inlay reflecting aspects of English practice.
This model can be 'sized' the suit the player from 15'' to 16 1/2''.
Later in his career, he became a Teacher at the Newark School of Violin Making and Restoration and is currently the course leader and has his own workshop outside Newark in a small village . He still specialises in violas, and the current model he makes is of his own design, whilst maintaining the influence of the Guarneri model, combined with Stradivarius' models and English makers such as Forster and Parker, modernised to meet the requirements of the current time. His new model reflects his extensive experience and many of the concepts he developed over time, including current viola making within the trade, reflecting the requirements of the player, but in his own inimitable style.
Stamford Strings is delighted to have been commissioned to sell one of Peter’s violas. It is designed to have large lush deep sound with strong projection and has an aged finish with some simple inlay reflecting aspects of English practice.
This model can be 'sized' the suit the player from 15'' to 16 1/2''.
Caroline Schroyen
Caroline is a promising upcoming violin maker. In 2014 she started learning violin repairs as a hobby with Luthier Géza Burghardt in Vancouver, Canada. She soon realised that violin making was where her heart belongs. In 2016, Caroline set of to learn at the Newark School of Violin Making, from which she graduated in 2020.
Caroline puts her focus on making new instruments. Her instruments reflect her remarkably fine and detailed way of working. Every step in the process of making is thoughtfully taken care of.
Caroline puts her focus on making new instruments. Her instruments reflect her remarkably fine and detailed way of working. Every step in the process of making is thoughtfully taken care of.
Hannes Dreyer
Hannes Dreyer is a dedicated violin maker and musician. He started playing the violin at the age of 7 and later continued to study violin at the ArtEZ University of arts in Arnhem, the Netherlands. Here, Hannes also started his career in violin making in 2016, learning restoration at Atelier Preyer. In 2020 he graduated from the Newark School of Violin Making. During his 4 years in Newark Hannes discovered his love for the making of new instruments. He committed himself to developing his skills to build new instruments on a high professional level.
"To me, the essence of being a musician is not too different from the essence of being a violin maker. Both engage in the art of creation. The violin player uses their bow and instrument to create a beautiful sound, while the luthier uses his tools and his feeling for the wood to create a beautiful violin. I enjoy combining my love for both of these art forms to try and create instruments with a warm, rich, well-balanced tone that will hopefully inspire musicians to express their own voice."
"To me, the essence of being a musician is not too different from the essence of being a violin maker. Both engage in the art of creation. The violin player uses their bow and instrument to create a beautiful sound, while the luthier uses his tools and his feeling for the wood to create a beautiful violin. I enjoy combining my love for both of these art forms to try and create instruments with a warm, rich, well-balanced tone that will hopefully inspire musicians to express their own voice."
Andrew Woods
Born in 1977 Andrew spent his formative years spend working a learning the family business as artisan gun maker. As time went on, he diversified into making guitars and basses, which then led him to making his first violin in 2013. He completed a BA Hons in Violin Making and Repair at Newark in 2020 and has completed more than fourteen classical instruments to date.
Stamford Strings has been commissioned to sell one of Andrew's 'Cello, which is his own full size design, with a narrow waist for comfort, and arching developed for a full even sound in both high and low registers.
theo Parmakis
Theo Parmakis studied at Newark School of Violin Making (class of 2020.) He holds a long-standing interest in many types of musical instruments, and has recently been focusing on making cellos, building three over the course of his final year. At Newark, Theo also spent time on instrument repair and baroque-era construction techniques as well as bow re-hairing and repairs.
Prior to attending Newark, Theo spent some time studying fretted instrument construction and maintenance including building a mandolin. He is also a keen folk music player and has taught the banjo for several years.
Prior to attending Newark, Theo spent some time studying fretted instrument construction and maintenance including building a mandolin. He is also a keen folk music player and has taught the banjo for several years.
Fabienne Arimont
Fabienne graduated from the Newark School of Violin Making and Repairing in 2020. Over the course of the time in school she finished six violins. Through her love for experimenting with different varnish and set up techniques, all of them have their own unique look and sound. Being involved with several repair and restoration projects over the past two years also had an influence on her style of making. Doing work experience in Germany and Canada has nurtured her interest in bow repairs and re-hairing. For the future Fabienne hopes to create more stringed instruments with consideration of sustainability and our environment. Fabienne works part time on restoration and set up at Stamford Strings.
Josanna fielder
Newly graduating from the Newark School of Violin Making. Josanna initially became interested in the instrument making and restoration trade in 2013, where she restored a violin and clarinet for hire on a work experience at Babcock Music Services, this led her to take a flute repair course in Wales. After a few years studying furniture making and A level Maths at Bridgwater College, Josanna went onto study at Newark, where she learnt to make, and restore various types of instruments, she even spread her wings into the woodwind department; repadding clarinets. Her main inspiration when making new instruments is within the Cremonese styling. She loves to get into the technical details within the making process, and plans to continue making new instruments in the future.