Montclair Book Event
With the April 19 Book Launch event for American Luthier at Watchung Booksellers of Montclair, NJ, the story of local violinmaker Carleen Hutchins returned home to a small but enthusiastic audience, treated to a short talk by biographer Quincy Whitney, and a special presentation and performance by celebrated jazz cellist Akua Dixon....
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Sunken Studio
Here in the dramatic sunken studio, fans of Wyeth can begin to understand the dimensions of the huge murals N. C. Wyeth painted, one of which was “The Giant,” a copy of which has adorned my writer’s studio for more than twenty years! To view the studio of N.C. Wyeth was akin to visiting Shangri-la!!!!...
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Children’s Orchestra Legacy
What an amazing Gala concert last night at the Kaye Center at Hunter College at East 6th in NYC! It was difficult to tell that these performers were of high school age except when you stop to study all the faces that look so young! They could adequately compete with many a college or university orchestra! Jeffrey Sun, CO’S 2016 Discovery Competition winner performed magnificently as guest soloist in Vieux Temps Violin Concerto. Cellist Hai-Ye Ni, celebrated for her expressive tone and technique seemed a perfect match for the Haydn Cello Concerto in D Major. But the culminating ...
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John Montgomery Violins
Such an exceptional evening on April 12 at John Montgomery Violins in Raleigh! Master luthier John Montgomery could not have been more gracious or enthusiastic about hosting an American Luthier event, complete with a full house of fifty or so filling his spacious front room. On the glass display case John had placed several innovative instruments including a viola da gamba, his own hurdy-gurdy which he later demonstrated to an after-party audience, and a Hutchins Alto Violin, also known as a “vertical viola” that he had recently acquired. In 1995, YoYo Ma won a Grammy for his performance of the ...
Read MoreM. Judson, Booksellers & Storytellers
Mary Miller at M. Judson, Booksellers & Storytellers was a most enthusiastic host for the April 14 book event in Greenville, the last stop on the first of two southeast book tours, (Virginia to follow in June). #QuincyWhitney #BookTour #AmericanLuthier #TheSouth ...
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Don Quixote
A pleasant and ironic surprise to see Don Quixote on the plaza in front of a federal courthouse on the road that leads out of Asheville, NC–so very appropriate! An author on a book tour has much in common with the man known for tilting–or jousting–at windmills!!! #QuincyWhitney #BookTour #AmericanLuthier #TheSouth ...
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Malatrop’s Bookstore/ Cafe
The very best part of any book signing are the people you meet, and quality always weighs in ahead of quantity. On a perfect spring evening in Asheville, I thoroughly enjoyed visiting with bookseller Hannah Richardson–her enthusiasm for her job and American Luthier were equally apparent. An added bonus was the visit with British physicist Brian Astle and retired physician Barry Friedlander. The conversation spanned the gamut from the string world to synesthesia–the ability to hear colors–from mirror images to twinship, violin shops in Atlanta to family members who are violinists. These two gentlemen made the evening–their kindness and generosity ...
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Bob Beerman
Bob Beerman and his wife Teresa rolled out the red carpet for an American Luthier book event at the Bass Violin Shop, Greensboro, NC, on April 12. Their reputation as a premiere Bass shop preceded them as bassist Rachel York, now at Scuppernong Books, declared the Bass Violin Shop “the best bass shop in the southeast!” #QuincyWhitney #BookTour #AmericanLuthier #BassViolinShoppe #Scuppernong ...
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Violinist Barbara McCauley
Violist Barbara McCauley holds a very special viola–rescued by luthier Carolyn Field, apprentice, loyal student, fellow luthier and friend of Carleen Hutchins. After Hutchins died in 2009, her children found a violin, all in parts in the attic and gifted them to Carolyn, one of the last students to study with Hutchins. Carolyn rescued this viola, finished it and dedicated it to Carleen. Inside is a Hutchins label to which Carolyn has added the words “In memoriam Carleen Hutchins.” Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill, NC. ...
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Flyleaf Books
A delightful, intensely interested audience at Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill, NC, made up of several people who knew or had worked with Hutchins or her instruments, including Durham Symphony bassist Richard Eckberg who was the first player to perform on the very first Hutchins contrabass violin in a professional orchestra in April, 1969. Here UNC Music Professor, cellist, and viola da gamba player Brent Wissick sits with luthier Carolyn Field who apprenticed with Hutchins, and holds the Alto Violin she made after a Hutchins model. Violist Barbara McCauley holds a traditional viola also made by Field.#QuincyWhitney #BookTour #AmericanLuthier #FlyleafBooks...
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