For over 35 years David Prentice has worked as a violinmaker building violins and violas for musicians in the orchestral and chamber music worlds. Prentice was born and raised in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario. After graduating from the University of Waterloo with a degree in mathematics, he became fascinated by the world of stringed instruments and began taking violin lessons in Toronto. Inspired by the work of Otto Erdesz and his students Joseph Curtin and John Newton, Prentice began his exploration of the craft of violin making in 1981 and within a few years had set up his own shop which is now situated in a historic building in the village of Flesherton, Ontario.
Prentice’s instruments have been acquired by some of Canadas finest string musicians. They can be found in orchestras such as the Gewandhaus Orchestra, Toronto Symphony, and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. The instruments have been played by soloists appearing with the Toronto Symphony, the Esprit Orchestra and the Hamilton Philharmonic. Several have been purchased by the instrument banks of the Banff Centre, Stanford University, and the Canadian Museum
of Civilization.
The mastery of the knowledge of lutherie is an endless endeavour and Prentice continues to explore the many facets of instrument acoustics, varnish making and the work of the masters of the 17th century in order to refine the sound he builds into his instruments. The transformation of one substance into another is a form of alchemy. Turning wood into a sound is just that. Moulding sound into music is the magic performed by the musician.
BARRY SHIFFMAN
Founding Member St Lawrence String Quartet, Director Glenn Gould School, Toronto
STEPHEN SITARSKI
Concertmaster Hamilton Philharmonic and Concertmaster Esprit Orchestra Toronto. Stephen frequently appears as soloist with many concertos in the standard repertoire as well as concertos written especially for him by Canadian composers.
MARK FEWER
Soloist, Chamber Musician, former Concertmaster Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Professor at Faculty of Music Toronto
SCOTT ST JOHN
Director of Chamber Music Colburn Conservaory of Music Houston. St. John was a member of the St. Lawrence String Quartet and faculty member at Stanford University for seven years, from 2006–2013.
ADAM ROMER
Principal Violist City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
CHARMAINE LOUIS
Member viola section Toronto Symphony Orchestra
“My current instrument was made in 2006 by a friend that I met when I was 18 years old at Algoma Music Camp. At the time, he was a mathematician and was just learning to play the violin. He became a great instrument maker and player of improvised music.”
YARIV ALONI
Music Director Victoria Chamber Orchestra, former member Penderecki String Quartet
CAROLYN BLACKWELL
Carolyn performs regularly with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and more recently, as Acting Assistant Principal Viola of the National Ballet of Canada and the Canadian Opera Company. Ms. Blackwell has performed as acting violist of The Aviv Quartet, collaborated with the Vienna Piano Trio and was recently appointed violist of the Tokai String Quartet.
CATHERINE GRAY
Member of Viola section Canadian Opera Company Orchestra, sub with Toronto Symphony, National Ballet Orchestra
STÉPHANIE BOZZINI
Founder member Bozzini String Quartet, teaches viola Concordia University Montreal
JOANNA HOOD
Ms. Hood plays with the Lafayette String Quartet, which she cofounded. As artist-in-residence at the University of Victoria, in Victoria, BC, she teaches viola and chamber music.
ARTHUR CHAKHMAKHCHYAN
Former concert master Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra, currently attending Glenn Gould School in Toronto.
KATYA WOLOSHYN
Freelance violist based in the Netherlands, she plays regularly throughout with a wide range of ensembles including the The String Soloists, Sinfonia Rotterdam of which she is principal viola.
KENT TEEPLE
Former section viola member with Toronto Symphony Orchestra
LORNA GLOVER
Violinist with Frans Breuggen’s Orchestra of the 18th Century for 30 years.
EMILY ENG
Freelance violist and violinist in symphony, opera, ballet, and baroque orchestras mostly in Toronto and area.
NICK PULOS
Former principal violist Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. Teacher Mount Royal Academy Calgary
YUNIOR LOPEZ
Cuban-born violist Yunior Lopez enjoys a unique career as a chamber player, conductor the Artistic & Music Director of the Las Vegas Young Artists Orchestra
CANADA
17 Collingwood Street,
Flesherton, Ontario
1.5 hours Northwest of Toronto.
Please call ahead for an appointment.
David Prentice
519-924-3032