The luthier

Clément Benoit - Luthier

It was at the age of fourteen, in 2003, that I visited the Mirecourt violin-making museum for the first time. So my choice is made. I will be a luthier.

To achieve this dream, I began my cabinet-making apprenticeship in 2006 at Georges Lamarque high school in Rilleux la Pape. After four years of cabinet-making studies during which I did several trainning periods with Jean Auray, luthier in Villefranche sur Saône, I left for England.

Over there I am studying violin-making and repair in Newark on Trent. For four years, I studied in English the art of making violins, violas and cellos. I also learned the restoration as well as the varnishing of the instruments of the quartet with renowned luthiers such as Paul Harrild, Bharat Khandekar, Cerise Jones, Peter Smith... During these studies I made seven violins, two violas and a cello.

After obtaining my violin-making diploma in 2014, I worked for violin-making workshops within the Lyon area. Meanwhile, I made several instruments such as violins and violas as well as a viola d'amore.

In 2017, I relocated The Hague (Netherlands), to work for W. Bouman & Zn workshop, a reference in Dutch violin making. There, I perfected my knowledge in the restoration and maintenance of instruments.

Back in France, I decided to open my own workshop in Toulouse in 2021. I moved to 9bis, rue de la Colombette, an iconic street in the "ville rose".

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