Jim Banicki
Head Luthier, Workshop Manager

Jim Banicki, manager of the Vermont Violins workshop,graduated from the Chicago School of Violin Making in 1985. He went on to work in the workshops of both John Norwood Lee and William Harris Lee crafting fine instruments and bows. He worked at Kenneth Warren & Son violin shop for 15 years, eventually becoming one of their senior repairmen. In the Warren workshop he had the opportunity to restore fine and historic instruments including those by such makers as A. Stradivari, Guarneri del Gesu, and Jacob Stainer. When the Warren shop closed their luthier workshop, Mr. Banicki continued to serve the Warren's and their clients including those from the Chicago Symphony.

Testimonials

Dear Jim,

I want to thank you for your wonderful restoration work on my cello. It looks absolutely beautiful but I am most excited with how the sound has opened up! It really resonates with a full, even tone over the entire range of the instrument. Another striking change is how easily it plays. This is truly the best my cello has ever been, and I can't thank you enough for your wonderful work, your time and amazing skill. -Sincerely, Donna Denniston

"I want to thank you for the wonderful rehair job that you have done on my son's violin bow.  You are absolutely ht ebest person we have found to rehair his bow.  We have had a terrible time with rehair jobs from luthiers in our area.  My son is so thankful to have met you up at Meadowmount this past summer!"    --Tamera Murphy

Harry Grabenstein
Bow maker and bow repair

Harry Grabenstein studied bowmaking with William Salchow at the University of New Hampshire. He was bowmaker at he Tourin Musica from 1983 to 1990. Grabenstein continues to build a full range of historical bows for the viola and violin families of string instruments. Using snakewood, pernambuco, ebony and other hardwoods he creates beautifully detailed bows that play expressively and are secure on the string. Clients include: members of Fretwork, The Kings Noyse, the Van Swieten Quartet, the Baltimore Consort, Ensemble Galilei, Chatham Baroque, The Orchestra of the 18th Century, The Boston Symphony, and The Cleveland Orchestra.

Edward Porte
Luthier

Ed has been the head of our West Lebanon, New Hampshire workshop since 2006. He is originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota and studied with Lisbeth Nelson-Butler at the Red Wing Technical Institute. Ed has attended various classes with Karl Roy, Hans Nebel and Lynn Hanning at the UNH summer programs. His past experience includes working with William Scott Violins from 2000-2001. In his time outside the workshop, Ed studies fiddling, bikes, and spends time with his children, who studied Suzuki at MacPhail Center for the arts in Mpls., MN. Personal musical interests include Hot Club of France, Baroque and traditional Irish fiddle music.

Ed's detailed and well-grounded knowledge of instruments benefits musicians of all levels. At the West Lebanon site of Vermont Violins, Ed can service all of your instrument needs from restoration and repairs to upgrades, and will always send you on your way with great advice and encouragement.

Testimonials

"I could not be happier with the results of Ed Porte's recent work on my 2000 Santaro Lucci cello, an unusual instrument  from the workshop of violin-maker Christopher Pu. The advice he offered concerning string changes, the new bridge he made, the enlarged sound post and a fingerboard adjustment altogether raised the playability and tone of the instrument up to a new level.  For a fraction of the cost of an instrument upgrade, I feel as if I now have a "new" instrument."
- Roy Fava Thetford Center,VT