Ifshin Violins

03/07/2026

Yay Hailey!!
Watch her performance on her Jay Haide at the Clipper game here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1USaHOKqV0M

02/24/2026

Stop by and say "hello" at booth 311.
We'd love to see you!

02/17/2026

Thank you for the praise for our Jay Haide cello. Lovely performance!

"I am so impressed with how the instrument sounded in such a prestigious and demanding venue."
~Alfredo Persichilli
Principal Solo Cellist at Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy.

02/12/2026

Jay Haide violins were on full display at guess where? 🏈
Happy to play our part!
And a big congratulations to Matthew Major! We welcome you to the Ifshin Violins family!

12/31/2025

Ifshin Violins is Hiring for a Rentals Associate - Full Time
https://www.ifshinviolins.com/About-Us/Job-Openings

Do you love working with violins, violas, or cellos—not just playing them, but caring for them?
Do you enjoy helping young musicians and their families? Are you energized by a busy,
collaborative music environment?
If so, this may be the perfect position for you.

We are seeking a full-time Rental Department Associate who is both an enthusiastic string player and a reliable, hands-on worker. This role combines customer service with daily instrument maintenance, ensuring that every rental instrument leaves our shop looking, sounding, and feeling its best.

What You’ll Do
In this position, you will:

Perform daily instrument maintenance, including cleaning and polishing, basic varnish touch-ups, string changes, bridge and tuning adjustments, and other low-level repair and care tasks.
Prepare instruments for rental, return, and exchange.
Assist children, parents, and adult players in selecting appropriately sized instruments and understanding instrument care.
Demonstrate instruments and answer questions from customers of all ages.
Write contracts, process payments, and maintain customer records in our rental database.
Support a busy retail workflow while collaborating with a friendly and experienced staff.

Our team takes pride in delivering excellent customer service, supporting one another, and providing instruments that meet a high standard of playability and appearance. The pace can be fast, especially during the school year, but the environment is supportive, musical, and rewarding.

What We’re Looking For
The successful candidate will bring:

Intermediate-level or higher skill on violin, viola, or cello. (You will be invited to play briefly for us.)
Strong work ethic and comfort with hands-on tasks requiring patience, precision, and consistency.
Experience working with children and their parents, and an ability to communicate clearly, kindly, and professionally.
Previous in-person retail experience, preferably 2–3 years.
Friendly, outgoing, and customer-focused personality.
Ability to learn new skills quickly, especially involving instrument handling and maintenance.
Excellent English communication skills.
Strong computer skills, basic math ability, and good organizational habits.
Attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple tasks at once.
Availability to work Tuesday through Saturday.

Additional Details
This is a full-time, permanent position with competitive pay and benefits. Our shop is beautiful, spacious, and designed to support a positive work experience. Public transportation is convenient—we’re just one block from the El Cerrito Plaza BART station.

If you meet the above requirements and are excited about the position, please submit your résumé (PDF preferred; Word or .txt accepted) to [email protected].

No phone calls, please.

12/24/2025

We are hiring!
https://www.ifshinviolins.com/About-Us/Job-Openings

11/21/2025

NEW IN THE SHOP! A Jules Grandjon 1845-1850 violin, Jacob Hill 1775 cello, and a Hel Jos 1885 viola. For more info, visit our website or give us a call!

Jules Grandjon was born in Mirecourt, the son and probably student of his father Prosper Grandjon. He worked in Paris and Amsterdam taking over his brothers workshop before establishing a workshop in Mirecourt around 1850. This workshop was very successful and his work won medals at Paris and London exhibitions.

This beautiful violin has a wonderfully responsive tone, very even and powerful.
**
Born in 1715, Joseph Hill was the first member of the great Hill family of violin makers and dealers. He moved from Worchestershire to London in 1746 and probably worked with Peter Walmsley. He set up his own London shop in 1753. London makers of that era were especially renowned for their violas and especially, cellos. Cellos were in great demand and this cello of 1775 is a particularly fine example.

It has the classic old English sound and is resonant, rich, and easy to play. Of all the great families of violin makers and dealers, it's hard to imagine one as important as the Hill family culminating of course with the firm of W.E. Hill & Sons, which operated from 1880 to 1992.

It all began with Joseph Hill, the maker of our exceptional cello.
**

11/19/2025

Tis' the holiday season! Here are our holiday hours, also on our website.

See you around the shop!

10/31/2025

10/31/2025

Our very own Debbie Dare is retiring after 44 years with Ifshin Violins! We love you!
-the Team at Ifshin Violins

❤️

10/24/2025

French expertise returns to Ifshin Violins!

Don't miss this opportunity to have your fine bows and instruments evaluated by world renown experts Jean-Jacques Rampal, Jonathan Marolle, Yannick Le Canu and Sylvain Bigot here at Ifshin Violins. They will be available to do appraisals, consultations, and certifications.

The event runs Jan 27th, 28th, & 29th 2026, 10:30am-5pm and is by appointment only.
To schedule your appointment, please call 510-843-5466 or email [email protected]

Link in bio.