Graham Caldersmith
Graham Caldersmith is one of Australia's most experienced luthiers. To 2010, he has made 106 violins, 54 violas and 37 'cellos, as well as over 100 classical guitars.
Graham's work is strongly informed by his scientific background and research. He studied at ANU, Canberra from 1973-6; UNE, Armidale, in 1977; and KTH, Stockholm during 1978). He committed to full-time violin making in 1980 but continued recording and analysing both violins made in his workshop and those brought in for repairs using equipment granted by the Australian Research Council. Relating wood properties, arching profiles and plate thickness to frequency response and players' advice he was able to assemble a body of information which has guided the making of violins, violas and 'Cellos for sound quality and overall balance. In 1982, Graham was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to visit USA and work with Carleen Hutchins on various aspects of violin performance.
In 1983, Caldersmith conducted a research project comparing the acoustic properties of Australian and European tonewoods. With this information and in collaboration with Kevin Williams and Warren Nolan-Fordham, he designed and made violins, violas and 'cellos with Australian tonewoods, refining the designs to optimise the performance of the instruments given the character of the indigenous woods. His violin family instruments are now made using King William Pine and Australian Blackwood, unless otherwise specifically requested.
From 1986 to 1996, Graham operated a busy violin shop with his wife in O'Connor, Canberra. In 1998, he moved to the mid north coast of NSW and was involved in the formation of the Kendall National Violin Competition (see www.kendallviolin.org.au), to which he continues to donate the prize of an 'Aussiewood violin' annually. He now lives lives and works in the mountain village of Comboyne, New South Wales with his partner, Angela MacPherson.
Graham's work is widely published in American Lutherie, Catgut Acoustical Society Newsletter, The Strad, Acustica, and Journal of Violin Society of America.
services
| makes | instruments vln, vla, vlc |
| restores | instruments vln, vla, vlc |
| address | 12 Main Street - 2429 - Comboyne (NSW) - Australia |
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