Andrea Bischoff, violin maker in Essen (Germany)
Andrea Bischoff discovered her love of music by playing the violin.
She had her first lessons at the age of ten. She subsequently engaged in
other artistic activities such as drawing and experimenting in various
painting techniques and styles. She ultimately found the combination of
music and art in violin making and completed a three-year course at the
famous Newark School of Violinmaking in England. In 1998 she passed her
exam with distinction.
Andrea then focused on studying various specialised areas of
violinmaking. She produced faithful copies of violins by the best-known
violinmakers such as Stradivari and Guarneri del Gesu at Roger Graham
Hargrave’s workshop in Meyenburg near Bremen. Hargrave is considered to
be a pioneer of instrument copying of international repute and an expert
in Italian instruments. During four years in his workshop Andrea
Bischoff built instruments, which are played today by professional
musicians in different countries.
She has honed her skills in the fields of repairs, restoration and
client service over several years of working with Reinhard Fischer in
Hamburg, Christoph Egenolf in Essen and at Henley's in Cologne – a
cooperative of several well-known violin and bow makers. In addition,
she was an assistant to Patrick Charton (France), Machold (Vienna) and
Kogge & Gateau (Berlin).
Based on her wealth of experience,
she established her own workshop in Essen in 2010. She is a member of
the Violin Society of America.
Andrea Bischoff’s work is distinguished by its thoroughness and precision.
She continues to be an active musician. She plays in the Duisburg-Essen University Orchestra and in chamber music ensembles now and again.
