David Kerr Violin Shop

03/19/2020

Starting Saturday, March 21, 2020, we will be shutting our doors indefinitely. This has been a hard decision for our shop to make, but also an easy one to protect our staff and customers. We want to encourage all of you at this time to stay at home, healthy and safe. You, as a community, have supported us and kept us alive for the last 45 years and we want to return the favor by limiting possible exposure and reminding everyone how important it is to restrict non-essential trips. In the meantime, please keep making music and connecting in any way you safely can.

We can't wait to open our doors to you again when we are safely through these uncertain times. Until then, feel free to email [email protected] for virtual support. She can advise on where one might purchase things online as well as simple fixes and advice for how to take care of things at home. We will not be checking voicemails as we will also be spending time with our loved ones in our safe spaces. Thank you for your understanding at this time. We hope to see you soon!

06/06/2018

Just FYI, phone lines are down today from the Comcast outage. Feel free to message us here if you have questions!

10/07/2017

We're ready for the show to start tomorrow. Instruments have been adjusted and the Kerr family is excited to see YOU when you visit! Don't forget the Italian instrument show goes until October 28. See you soon!!

10/04/2017

Have you heard? We are having an exhibition of contemporary Cremonese instruments starting this Saturday, October 7, and continuing on until Saturday, October 28.
We would love to have you with us for the open house this Saturday at 3:30pm. Please RSVP to kerritalianinstrumentshow @ gmail.com
We can't wait to see you there!

06/14/2016

It is with great dismay that we ask for your vigilance in locating our dear friend Anthea Kreston's 1928 Becker violin which was taken on a train between Berlin and Freiburg several hours ago. She was travelling to her concert with the Artemis Quartett and was blessed with violin loans so the show could go on. Even though it is across the pond for many of us, please keep your eyes and ears open and share the pictures if you can! http://slippedisc.com/2016/06/slipped-disc-alert-stop-that-thief/

06/14/2016

We're not saying they won't try to take our bows, but I hope this helps our travels to go a little more smoothly.
Now if they would only let us carry our instruments on our flights...

June 2, 2016, 1:21 PM · Good news for bowmakers and anyone traveling with bows: new revisions to U.S. rules on African elephant ivory will allow musicans to buy and sell instruments with a small amount of ivory and to carry them on international flights, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service a...

05/27/2016

It is really awesome to see a well loved Portland group getting some national attention! The Portland Cello Project

Eclectic ensemble, the Portland Cello Project, stopped by the Strings studio with four of its members before performing at Slim’s in San Francisco on May 12. Watch cellists Skip vonKuske, Sag…

03/11/2016

All Classical Portland has been a true partner for us and countless other local arts organizations in Portland. Many of us here are members and are proud to be a part of their family! Please consider supporting their efforts during their Spring Fundraiser, and help ensure that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy classical music!

11/09/2015

We're so excited to see our friends from 45th Parallel put on an amazing show this weekend. This concert of Forbidden Music will be an opportunity to examine darker parts of our history through music. We hope to see your faces in the audience!

10/01/2015

Giuseppe Ornati Milan, 1926

We have some exciting instruments this fall, including this outstanding example of Giuseppe Ornati's finest work.

Ornati was was one of the most important Italian violin makers of his time. He began his career as a carpenter and started making instruments independently before he joined Leandro Bisiach's renowned workshop, where he became one of the shop's best pupils and craftsmen.

Ornati, who later opened his own workshop, made instruments using a personal model, but was clearly influenced by Stradivari patterns.

This violin is in mint condition. He made the instrument for his daughter, with the phrase "Dono a mia figlia Carnelia" printed on the label. Photographs of this instrument are featured on page 206 in the first printing of Gualtiero Nicolini's book Liutai Italiani Di Ieri E Di Oggi.

09/09/2015

Are you planning on leaving the country anytime soon? You probably have your passport ready, but don't forget about your instrument/bow! Due to new customs regulations, you may need a passport for your instrument as well. It's really called a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) musical instrument certificate but it takes 60-90 days so it's pretty much an equivalent of a human passport. An appraisal or certificate of authenticity does not suffice!

Welcome to the League, dedicated to helping orchestras meet the challenges of the 21st century.

03/27/2015

Do you or someone you know need a Suzuki book? Maybe a little Mooney to help with your thumb position? Or some "Solos for Young Violinists" that you know? We are now carrying books! Stop by and look through our selection and let us know what else you would like us to carry!

See you soon!