SOLD
Flesherton, Ontario 2024
Contemporary violin making is arguably at its highest level today, and this violin by Mark Schnurr is a compelling example. Mark needs little introduction: a multiple VSA medalist, including Double Gold in 2022, whose instruments are widely admired by professional musicians.
I was very excited to commission this violin from him. From the outset, I knew I wanted a one-piece back and suggested several possible models, including the Ysaÿe Guarneri del Gesù, the Joachim Stradivari, and the Willemotte Stradivari. During our exchange, Mark mentioned that he had a closely matched wood set already set aside for a Willemotte copy he had long intended to make — a detail I was delighted to learn, and one that settled the decision.
After a couple of years’ wait, the time had come. I flew into Toronto to pick up the violin, which also made for a meaningful trip to catch up with relatives. Mark graciously drove all the way from Flesherton and presented the violin at my uncle’s high rise, in a billiard room reserved just for the occasion.
These pictures don’t do it justice, but if you look closely enough, you’ll discover many thoughtful details Mark borrowed from the original.
Tonally, this violin defies expectations of a “new” instrument. It offers broad dynamic range, quick response, and a depth that keeps you wanting more. And as I got to know the violin better, the more I played, the more it revealed. The below quote from Leonidas Kavakos (in this clip) captures the very essence of this violin:
“It’s a very interesting sound…and the more you play, the more you find. And… this is what matters to a violinist.”
Fun fact: when I made travel arrangements for this trip, I rediscovered an old email exchange with a Toronto shop from years ago. It all came back — I had tried several violins there and asked myself which one I would choose if I were buying that day. The instrument I singled out was a Mark Schnurr violin (circa 2016) that I had requested on trial. Remembering that moment as I headed to Toronto, I knew I was in for something special.