Viateur Roy

Originally from Quebec, Canada, Viateur was encouraged by his mother to explore music at “Les Petits Chanteurs de Trois-Rivières,” where he developed aural skills, including theory, musical practice, and sound listening. Simultaneously, his father guided him in wood transformation processes such as lumberjack work and sawmilling. To further his apprenticeship, Viateur studied at L’École Nationale du Meuble in Victoriaville, Quebec, where he learned furniture and staircase making in solid wood, sculpture, marquetry, and the basics of varnishing. He graduated with the Governor General of Canada Medal Award for best academic performance.

In 2005, Viateur decided to combine these experiences and pursue his long-held ambition of becoming a violin maker.

After graduating from the National School of Lutherie in Mirecourt, France, in 2009, Viateur joined Patrick Robin’s workshop as an assistant. Over the past nine years, he has refined his training and contributed to the creation of instruments. This experience has deepened his sensory skills—touch, sight, and hearing—and immersed him in the culture of quartet instrument sonorities.

The works of François Denis (Traité de Lutherie) also play a crucial role in Viateur’s approach to making. This reference has been invaluable in studying and understanding the designs of historic masters such as Stradivari, Amati, Guarneri, Da Salo, and Maggini. It enables Viateur to make informed and thoughtful choices in his own work, whether adapting models to specific demands or exploring contemporary designs.

Building on this experience, Viateur now focuses on crafting quartet instruments.