Ascension Sound Violin Sales
The world's finest violins direct from Canada's Master Luthiers
Building upon two decades of involvement in Canadian music, we are privileged to be official representatives and offer violins for sale in Ottawa from some of the finest modern-day Violin Makers in Canada, which constitute arguably the finest makers in the world.
We have diligently selected the finest violins from each of the renowned Luthiers we represent. Please contact Ascension Sound Studios (or the Violin Studio) for information on currently available instruments, and be sure to view our current featured Violin Maker and special violin(s) below!
We have diligently selected the finest violins from each of the renowned Luthiers we represent. Please contact Ascension Sound Studios (or the Violin Studio) for information on currently available instruments, and be sure to view our current featured Violin Maker and special violin(s) below!
Our Advantage
Canada is the second largest country in the world (geographically), and is rivaled in Europe only by Germany, Italy and the U.K. for a greater number of violin makers. Canada's recognized tradition of master woodworking craftsman, combined with the availability of high quality wood from old growth forests, makes a powerful recipe for quality makers of violins, violas, and cellos. Indeed Canadian violin makers are constantly ranked among the best in the world, particularly when one considers the multitude of renowned international players using modern Canadian instruments.
Canada is the second largest country in the world (geographically), and is rivaled in Europe only by Germany, Italy and the U.K. for a greater number of violin makers. Canada's recognized tradition of master woodworking craftsman, combined with the availability of high quality wood from old growth forests, makes a powerful recipe for quality makers of violins, violas, and cellos. Indeed Canadian violin makers are constantly ranked among the best in the world, particularly when one considers the multitude of renowned international players using modern Canadian instruments.
Our Forté
We do not carry a large inventory of violins. We prefer to select and represent only the very best instruments from the best makers. With each violin having its own distinct character, we go to great lengths to play and assess many instruments in order to find the gems. We have found that between Suzanne's ability to feel and hear the personality of the instrument "under the ear" and Aaron's ability to hear the instrument "at a distance" from a performance and recording perspective, we can identify the exceptional instruments with a distinctive yet balanced character for various styles of music.
We do not carry a large inventory of violins. We prefer to select and represent only the very best instruments from the best makers. With each violin having its own distinct character, we go to great lengths to play and assess many instruments in order to find the gems. We have found that between Suzanne's ability to feel and hear the personality of the instrument "under the ear" and Aaron's ability to hear the instrument "at a distance" from a performance and recording perspective, we can identify the exceptional instruments with a distinctive yet balanced character for various styles of music.
Our Luthiers
Having been involved with symphony orchestras, recording studios, and violin schools in Victoria, Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal, Aaron and Suzanne Young have been fortunate to develop relationships with Canada's most respected violin makers. It is our privilege and absolute joy to introduce instruments from these select makers to professional and aspiring professional violinists everywhere. The difference these high quality instruments can make to a player's sound and overall musical expression cannot be overstated.
Having been involved with symphony orchestras, recording studios, and violin schools in Victoria, Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal, Aaron and Suzanne Young have been fortunate to develop relationships with Canada's most respected violin makers. It is our privilege and absolute joy to introduce instruments from these select makers to professional and aspiring professional violinists everywhere. The difference these high quality instruments can make to a player's sound and overall musical expression cannot be overstated.
Whenever possible, we encourage anyone interested in our violins to schedule an appointment and visit us in Ottawa to try various instruments in our acoustically correct setting. Failing that, we offer a very unique 10 day trial period on violins which can be shipped to most countries. Our unique trial process stems from our belief that the marriage between a player and their violin should not be forced. If the player does not feel that the violin will one-day become like an extension of them self for any reason we are happy to take back the instrument until its destined owner appears.
Also, very uniquely, we encourage prospective clients to speak directly with the Maker of the violin that they may be interested in. We sell all instruments at the same price as the Violin Maker. Therefore, all instruments are offered at the lowest price possible, just as if the player had gone to the Violin Maker directly.
We look forward to hearing from you to discuss our current selection of exceptional violins and provide pictures and sound samples etc.
Our first "website feature" is fittingly of two special violins from a team of Luthiers which together comprise one of Canada's premiere violin makers, J.B STENSLAND & T. GIRARD. Aaron and Suzanne recently returned from Montréal Canada where they had the pleasure of auditioning many wonderful instruments made by the revered shop of Jean-Benoît Stensland and Thérèse Girard. The two violins featured below were particularly exciting as they are superb instruments of the quality one would expect from such master Luthiers collaborating on an instrument. However, unlike comparable modern Canadian violins - from this shop and others - which generally sell for around $15,000, these collaborative instruments have been specialty priced at $12,000 CAD in order to make them more accessible to players, especially in the midst of these difficult economic times. These beautiful sounding instruments come with a BAM l'original (France) case and include expedited shipping and insurance to any destination in Canada.
Un violin portant l'étiquette
(A violin bearing the label)
"Atelier
J.B Stensland & T. Girard Montréal 2009
C. Bergonzi 1736"
Price: $12,000 CAD
(A violin bearing the label)
"Atelier
J.B Stensland & T. Girard Montréal 2009
C. Bergonzi 1736"
Price: $12,000 CAD
Un violin portant l'étiquette:
"Atelier J.B Stensland & T. Girard Montréal 2010"
This violin is modeled after Guarneri "Alard" 1742.
Price: $12,000 CAD
"Atelier J.B Stensland & T. Girard Montréal 2010"
This violin is modeled after Guarneri "Alard" 1742.
Price: $12,000 CAD
J.B STENSLAND & T. GIRARD
- Luthiers & Archetiers
Jean-Benoît Stensland began his apprenticeship in Montréal under luthier Antoine Robichaud. This training enabled him to obtain a Canada Art Council grant in 1980 to study at the International School of Stringed Instrument Making in Cremona, Italy (I.P.I.A.L.L.). After graduating in 1984, he earned a certificate of merit for one of his violins from the Violin Society of America. Returning back to Montréal, Jean-Benoît opened a workshop with luthier Thérèse Girard. Jean-Benoît has perfected techniques based on the Italian classical school, striving for a particular ideal tone while focusing on the visual aesthetics of the instrument. To date, Jean-Benoît Stensland has made more than 350 instruments including forty violoncellos, one of which is part of the collection of the Canadian Museum of Civilizations.
Thérèse Girard, a trained violist, also received a Canada Art Council grant in 1980 to study at the International School of Stringed Instrument Making in Cremona, Italy (I.P.I.A.L.L.). In 1984 she obtained her diploma under Wanna Zambelli. While in Italy, she also studied bow-making with Maestro Gioanni Lucchi. In addition to making and restoring stringed instruments and bows, Thérèse specializes in the engraving of frogs and buttons, a technique learned from Master Jeweller (Aristide Tira). In 1982, she was commissioned to make a cello bow to be part of the permanent collection of the Canadian Museum of Civilisations. Thérèse Girard works closely with luthier Jean-Benoît Stensland.
Many renowned musicians throughout the world use the instruments of J.B STENSLAND & T. GIRARD. Similarly, so do respected institutions such as McGill University which owes its baroque quartet collection of instruments to this talented and treasured team.
- Luthiers & Archetiers
Jean-Benoît Stensland began his apprenticeship in Montréal under luthier Antoine Robichaud. This training enabled him to obtain a Canada Art Council grant in 1980 to study at the International School of Stringed Instrument Making in Cremona, Italy (I.P.I.A.L.L.). After graduating in 1984, he earned a certificate of merit for one of his violins from the Violin Society of America. Returning back to Montréal, Jean-Benoît opened a workshop with luthier Thérèse Girard. Jean-Benoît has perfected techniques based on the Italian classical school, striving for a particular ideal tone while focusing on the visual aesthetics of the instrument. To date, Jean-Benoît Stensland has made more than 350 instruments including forty violoncellos, one of which is part of the collection of the Canadian Museum of Civilizations.
Thérèse Girard, a trained violist, also received a Canada Art Council grant in 1980 to study at the International School of Stringed Instrument Making in Cremona, Italy (I.P.I.A.L.L.). In 1984 she obtained her diploma under Wanna Zambelli. While in Italy, she also studied bow-making with Maestro Gioanni Lucchi. In addition to making and restoring stringed instruments and bows, Thérèse specializes in the engraving of frogs and buttons, a technique learned from Master Jeweller (Aristide Tira). In 1982, she was commissioned to make a cello bow to be part of the permanent collection of the Canadian Museum of Civilisations. Thérèse Girard works closely with luthier Jean-Benoît Stensland.
Many renowned musicians throughout the world use the instruments of J.B STENSLAND & T. GIRARD. Similarly, so do respected institutions such as McGill University which owes its baroque quartet collection of instruments to this talented and treasured team.
Upon returning from Montréal, Aaron and Suzanne were so excited they couldn't resist featuring one more violin on the website. This marquee instrument (which has the appearance and sound of a much older violin) was made by the internationally renowned Luthier Denis Cormier who so fortunately calls La belle province home.
Un violin portant l'étiquette
(A violin bearing the label)
DENIS CORMIER
FAIT À MONTRÉAL
EN 2010 No 323
Price: $14,500 CAD
(A violin bearing the label)
DENIS CORMIER
FAIT À MONTRÉAL
EN 2010 No 323
Price: $14,500 CAD
Denis Cormier, Luthier
Denis Cormier has made over 270 violins, violas and cellos during the last thirty years. Their remarkable qualities have been recognized by musicians worldwide. Internationally renowned soloist Pierre Amoyal, Kyung Wha-Chung, Chin Kim and Hui Jin play on Cormier-crafted instruments.
The concert masters of the New Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal and the Ithaca Chamber Orchestra (New York) also perform on instruments made by Mr. Cormier, as do the first violin of the Manderling String Quartet (Germany) and the violists of the Montreal based Morency and Claudel String Quartets.
Three Cormiers are presently being played by members of the Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, seven members of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. In Korea, twenty-five violins and violas are being played in various ensembles.
Between 1975 and 1980, Denis Cormier pursued his violonmaking training under master craftsmen Frédéric Boyer in Paris, and Willem Bouman in The Hague, Holland. He was exposed to the French and German traditions through two influencial violonmaking schools, with an apprenticeship spanning both the restoration and the making of the violin, although the latter would lay claim to his heart. Upon returning to Montreal in 1980, Cormier opened his own workshop where he devotes himself to the crafting of violins violas and cellos.
Denis Cormier has made over 270 violins, violas and cellos during the last thirty years. Their remarkable qualities have been recognized by musicians worldwide. Internationally renowned soloist Pierre Amoyal, Kyung Wha-Chung, Chin Kim and Hui Jin play on Cormier-crafted instruments.
The concert masters of the New Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal and the Ithaca Chamber Orchestra (New York) also perform on instruments made by Mr. Cormier, as do the first violin of the Manderling String Quartet (Germany) and the violists of the Montreal based Morency and Claudel String Quartets.
Three Cormiers are presently being played by members of the Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, seven members of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. In Korea, twenty-five violins and violas are being played in various ensembles.
Between 1975 and 1980, Denis Cormier pursued his violonmaking training under master craftsmen Frédéric Boyer in Paris, and Willem Bouman in The Hague, Holland. He was exposed to the French and German traditions through two influencial violonmaking schools, with an apprenticeship spanning both the restoration and the making of the violin, although the latter would lay claim to his heart. Upon returning to Montreal in 1980, Cormier opened his own workshop where he devotes himself to the crafting of violins violas and cellos.
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