HONORING OUR TRADE PATRONS:

Until recently, StringWizards never needed a bank account. Everybody listed below gave what they had to spare to provide for others. All this happened because the arts education world and the music trade and many individual others stepped up with support. Here are the heroes of our story.

PAUL WARGASKI

At the top of the donor list is Paul Wargaski of Wargaski Violins Chicago, who encouraged me to take on the task, and as a violin maker himself, was there to teach me the basics to get underway, and making choices about what tools and supplies to buy. I was at least 40 or 50 hours in his shop in the early days and I've been a frequent visitor ever since with endless questions. He is my primary mentor.

THE D'ADDARIO FOUNDATION

The D’Addario Foundation
- My first foundation endorsement!
- For violin, viola and cello strings
- For instrument tuners
- For aprons and shop supplies
- For offering a hand even before I asked.

HUNGRY FOR MUSIC

Hungry for Music !
- Hungry for Music is a non profit out of Washington DC that collects used instruments and then donates them to underserved children.
- Their donations over the months and years constitute a majority fraction of our used instrument and used parts inventory.
- As the picture shows they have been a vital source of parts for us.

PETER SEMAN VIOLINS

Peter Seman Violins
- A local major source for instruments, parts, and bows
- For endless advice
- For our kick off initial cello inventory (above)
- For routinely being there on short notice with parts or whatever I needed
- My acquaintance with Peter pre-dates StringWizards
- I play a Peter Seman violin.

THE GLASSER BOW COMPANY

The Glasser Bow Company
- For advice and encouragement
- For free violin bows by the box full!
- For offers of further help when needed
- For their research and production of carbon-fiber cellos, which will be a big winter time help in the very dry public schools in Chicago.

Lashof Violins
- For repair advice and donations.
- For the donation of his 300-page book Violin Making and Repair for the Novice. It is also an extensive reference book on bow issues and is in use all the time.

L. R. Baggs Company
- for advice and a discount on the electronic amplification of a viola
- Amplification provides a gateway to explore the blues and improv world. This is a still a research project at StringWizards, but Lloyd and his team and Sam Walder’s Trala will likely play a part in experimental solutions to improve retention of otherwise departing graduates.

National Association of Music Merchants and the NAMM Foundation
- For sponsorship of Music-for-All and the Advocacy-in-Action program
- For our gold medal
- For showing my interns that perseverance has merit This was our first big award

Safco Office Furnishings
- For pro bono advice and parts for our new drafting stools.
- We went from very uncushioned wooden stools to top of the line drafting table chairs on casters with arm rests. All this without cost of us. We are deeply grateful.

Triangle Strings < >For Internet advice on violin repair techniquesFor on-going personal assistance when askedFor a lovely website full of advice for StringWizard interns

William Harris Lee Violins
- For their on-going interest in Chicago and in serving the needs of our service population with their presence at el Sistema events
- For their recent instrument case donations to Music Inc.
- For their offer of help to me.

Vann Bow Company
- For donated bow hair and re-hairing toolsFor a big discount on their bow re-hair how-to videos,For on-going advice and supplies when needed

We.Org and the Allstate Insurance Foundation
- For recognizing our work with a recent national recognition award
- For tomorrow’s promise of melodies yet to play.

That is Suzanne and I circa 2015 with Trinity and Jacob.

Replacing old, worn out strings with new ones, makes an incredible difference.

That is her grandfather's violin.

The fingerboard is being removed.

Look closely to see the knife.

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