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R. Kim Tipper
Since moving his
workshop to Victoria in 1995 Kim Tipper has earned the
trust and respect of professional string players, violin
collectors, students and amateurs throughout BC. He
is a fine luthier, a supporter of the arts in our
community and an enthusiastic amateur musician. Kim
continues to expand his business as a dealer and expert in
fine instruments and bows in addition to his work as a
skilled restorer and maker. His ability in setup and
tonal adjustment of instruments is much sought after as
are his opinions on the authenticity and condition of fine
instruments.
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Sachi Tamura
Sachi re-discovered playing the violin when she followed her daughter and husband
into the orchestral programs at the Victoria Conservatory of Music. Since that
time she has also become well known in our music community through her work with
the Victoria Fiddle Society and Daniel Lapp’s House of Music. Sachi came to
Tipper Violins with a passion for music in our community and an eager curiosity
for what would be found in the workshop and vault.
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Laura Wallace
Laura began her music career as violinist and fiddler in Roberts Creek and
Vancouver before coming to Victoria to do a degree in biology. Since
settling in Victoria Laura has discovered her love for the cello, but can
still be seen with her violin at VFS jams. Having grown up around her
father’s furniture workshop, it seemed a natural choice to set herself the
goal of becoming a luthier. Since her graduation from UVic she has been
devoted to the craft full time under Kim Tipper’s direction and is
becoming our shop’s cello specialist.
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Tom Burton
Tom brings to the shop the expertise of an accomplished and knowledgeable musician.
He is a classical violin teacher completing the teacher training program at the
Victoria Conservatory of Music, studying under Dr. Walter Mony. The violin has
always been Tom’s passion, playing in orchestras and chamber groups in England,
USA and Canada throughout an accomplished career as a qualified psychotherapist.
Tom moved to Victoria from England in 2006.
Working in a violin shop is for Tom like being a child in a sweet shop. Each
instrument has its own character and history. Tom is enjoying learning about these
fine instruments and bows and communicating his knowledge and enthusiasm to other
musicians and students.
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Miriam Sonstenes
Miriam has established herself as professional violinist, fiddler and teacher
in Victoria since moving here to complete her Music degree at the University
of Victoria with Ann Elliot-Goldschmid. She was born in Germany and studied
violin at the Vancouver Academy of Music before finishing her degree at UVIc.
In our shop Miriam helps us attend to the needs of violins and bows and is
ready to assist customers in selecting an instrument. Miriam is also studying
instrument setup and repair and is applying these skills when she travels to
teach fiddle in such places as the Strings Across the Sky Fiddle camp, the
Kole Crook Fiddle Camp and the Salt Spring Fiddle camp.
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Tracy Plourde
Tracy and her family are very active in the Victoria music scene, the Victoria
Fiddle Society and Daniel Lapp’s House of Music. Her first introduction to the
violin was as a Suzuki parent and she has continued with her own fiddle lessons.
Tracy has been The House of Music’s administrator and registrar and in our shop
she is engaged in bringing order to our office and supplying warm greetings to our customers.
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Reid Hudson
Reid is known around the world as
a fine bow maker and restorer and we are pleased to offer
his expertise and skill to our customers. Reid was
born in Toronto where he studied double bass with Tom
Monahan before moving to Ottawa where he apprenticed with
Joseph Kun, a Czech violin and bow maker and shoulder rest
inventor. His traditional training in Kun’s
shop helped develop his deep appreciation for the history
of the craft and the French tradition of bow making.
In 1980 Reid and his young family moved to Vancouver
Island where he has developed his skills and reputation.
In recent years he has taught bow making at courses
regularly held in Arkansas and Japan.
www.reidhudson.com
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Leanne Warren
Leanne is a working partner in the business, married to Kim, a former
orchestral musician, and now a voice student, in addition to her PhD
studies and job with the provincial government. She can be credited for
much of the look and feel of our shop as she works with our designers to
bring together a comfortable and elegant setting for our staff and customers to enjoy.
From time to time you may find her in the shop working with Sachi and Tracy.
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