Artur Friedhoff

Born and raised in Barcelona in a family of professional musicians, Artur Friedhoff’s path to violin making began with music. Being immersed in the world of performance from an early age—playing in chamber ensembles, orchestras, and even on the stage of the Palau de la Música Catalana—fostered both a deep appreciation for music and an intuitive understanding of the instruments of the quartet family.

His instruments have since been recognized with seven awards from the Violin Society of America, including Certificates for Tone and Artisanship, and a Silver Medal for Quartet Tone in 2024.

The mentorship of several luthiers has shaped his development as a violin maker. He maintains a long-standing connection with Catalan maker David Bagué, whose guidance sparked Friedhoff’s first violin at the age of 15 and still continues to inspire his artistic approach. He refined his technical skills under Paul Hart, former teacher at the Violin School of America and spent a formative decade working at Ifshin Violins in California, where he trained in restoration and tonal work under Haide Lin. His ongoing collaboration with violin maker Ryan Soltis along with international gatherings such as the Oberlin Acoustics and Oh!Berlin workshops continues to inform and elevate his craft.

Artur Friedhoff’s aim to make exciting instruments that inspire the musician’s voice and honor the trees they come from. His engineering background has aided him in the technical aspects of the craft, blending traditional methods with innovation. Years of experience in restoration have taught him the importance of set-ups and to listen closely to the individual needs of performers. He likes exploring the possibilities of wood and learning how to make trees sing. As he comes up with my own models and ideas, he always looks back at the old masters for inspiration. Every instrument he makes is unique – and each one has a story.