16 5/8" Guy Rabut viola, New York 1980
Guy Rabut was raised in a musical and artistic family, and he began to play the cello at an early age. Along with his musical studies, he also developed a strong interest in the visual arts through his father, an artist by profession. This association with music and art led to his career in violin making, which began in 1975 at The Violin Making School of America in Salt Lake City, Utah.
After working for five years at the prestigious firm of Jacques Français in New York City under master restorer René Morel, Rabut established his own shop in New York City in 1984, where he divided his time between making and restoring instruments. In 1992, with the opening of a Carnegie Hall workshop, he focused exclusively on creating new violins, violas, and cellos. Established for over 40 years in New York, Rabut continues his dedication to new instruments in his workshop in the Upper West Side.
Guy has been featured in numerous articles and interviews in print as well as on radio and screen, and in 2014, he was the subject of a short film by Laredo Montoneri. His instruments have won numerous awards in international competitions and are owned by professional musicians worldwide. Sought out as a mentor and teacher, he has assisted many violin makers in their development. He also served as a judge for the International Triennale Violin Making Competition Antonio Stradivari in Cremona as well as for Violin Society of America competitions.
Length of back: 422 mm 16 1/2" and larger