Contact:
Nicole Gallego
New Haven Symphony Orchestra
203.931.2991
ngallego@newhavensymphony.org
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Violinmaker Donates Concert Instrument To New Haven Symphony Orchestra
New Haven, CT, December 4, 2008 The New Haven Symphony Orchestra (NHSO) is pleased to announce that it is the recipient of the generous donation of a superb concert violin by its maker Mr. Andrius Faruolo. The instrument is valued at $25,000.
In discussing his gift, Mr. Faruolo stated that as a luthier, and former concert violinist, he is very aware of the pressing need for support faced by symphony orchestras today. He added that he was pleased to share news of the gift in the hope that others would consider the importance of supporting orchestras, particularly in these difficult economic times.
His connection to the NHSO stems from a longtime friendship with the NHSO’s principal second violinist Stephan Tieszen, who has championed Mr. Faruolo’s instruments. “Andrius has been my friend for more than 30 years. …his extraordinary generosity in giving this violin to NHSO is a wonderful gift, “said Mr. Tieszen.
Andrius Faruolo has worked professionally in New York City since 1978. Andrius repaired and restored instruments, and bows in the shop of David Segal (NYC) in the early 1980’s. Andrius established a permanent Atelier at the Meadowmount School of Music at the request of Mrs. Ivan Galamian, and worked there as “Luthier in Residence” from 1981 through the mid 1990s. From 1993-1996, he worked as a consultant for Sotheby’s Department of Music New (London and New York) evaluating instruments of the string quartet. He has been making violins continually since then.
Andrius was born into a family of skilled artisans and wood workers. When his father, Francesco Faruolo was a young man, he apprenticed in the shop of Signor Giuseppe Nettuno a guitar and mandolin maker in NYC. At an early age Andrius studied art at the Portland Museum of Art (Oregon) for 10 years. Educated in classical painting, sculpture, and wood working techniques, Andrius collaborates in the development of new instrument models with his twin brother Alarik—who works as a consultant and design specialist on the west coast.Andrius was given a scholarship to study violin with Itzhak Perlman in 1975 and studied with Perlman for 3 years in an international class of ten students. In 1978 he left to pursue his career in violin making and restoration. Already a skilled wood worker, and as a violin student of Perlman, Andrius made a violin for his own use. This instrument was later played by Mark Peskanov.
Andrius has traveled and lived in Europe for various periods of time to study the work technique and the instruments of makers in Belgium, France, and Italy. Andrius and his brother worked with the late Robert Lundberg from the early 1980s and 1990s researching antique varnish techniques and early instrument construction. In addition to working with and for established violin makers and repairmen in New York, Andrius has taught violinmaking in Buenos Aires, and continues to educate by posting the art of making purfling and a process for making plaster molds of antique instruments, and other information on his website www.AndriusViolins.com. Mr. Faruolo maintains an Atelier in the foothills of the Adirondacks in Elizabethtown, NY.
