Our Instrument Makers

Biographies, Photos and Other Interesting Information for Collectors

Ming Jiang Zhu - Xeuchang Sun - Petko Petkov - Mitio Dimitrov - Angela Moneff - Ivan Stankov - Petko Stoinov

Ming Jiang Zhu

Ming Jiang Zhu is one of the world's most respected makers and an incredible success story worthy of Time Magazine's attention!

Zhu started his violin craft in 1975 when he was selected to study at the Guangzhou Musical Instruments School in China, an institution which has produced many famous world-class makers. Two years later he applied scientic research and hands-on practice at the Guangzhou Musical Instrument Research Institute.

In 1991 he opened his own workshop making his own brand: Mingjiang Violins. In the next year he won three awards in the Violin Society of America Competition.

Mr. Zhu has since won an impressive sixteen awards over the past 20 years, on the way winning an enviable reputation internationally which earned him an interview with Time Magazine in 1996.

His two Gold Medals in Violin Making [1994 and 2006] and a Silver Award in Viola making [1996] in the Violin Society of America Competitions earn him much respect in the luthier world, in practice rooms and concert halls and beyond.

Zhu violins for sale

Xue Chang Sun

A luthier since the 1960's, he has won many awards including a Gold medal for craftmanship and a Silver medal for tone in cello making at the National Violin Making Competition in China (1987) and a certificate of merit for bass workmanship at the 15th International Violin Society of America Competition and Exhibition (2002).

Mr. Sun's worksmanship has been appreciated among some of the most prestigious luthiers and shops in Asia, Europe, Canada and the United States and his instruments are played by student to professional players around the world.

His instrument line ranges from the student VN-100 and the intermediate VN-102. Older labels read "Antonio Scarlatti,"current labels read "from the Workshop of Xuechang Sun."

Sun Instruments for Sale

Petko Petkov, Bulgaria

At a young age Petkov apprenticed with the factory for string instruments "Cremona" and learned the fundamentals of violin making. Deeply impressed by the violins exquisiteness he came to realize that the only way to personalize his instruments was to open his own studio.

He learned the craft from the best luthiers including the distinguished Vladko Naidenov, a hereditary violin master and Petkov's mentor. His instruments are made from Premium Balkan maple and spruce from the Rodopi mountains, naturally air dried (not kiln-dried) for many years. He uses traditional Italian methods of construction. All instruments have a Certificate of Authenticity.

Petkov has been a member of the Regional Association of Violin Masters in Kazanlak since 1999 and has participated in three national competitions. Recently a violin of his won 19th place of 50 instruments in a European competition.

Petkov's instruments are sought out by musicians of distinction in Italy, Japan, Canada, Greece, Brunei and Holland.

› This very unique "Lion Head" violin was commissioned by Fiddleheads and illustrates Mr. Petkov's incredible skill and creativity as a master maker

Petkov Violins for Sale

Mitio Dimitrov

Born and raised in the Bulgarian violin centre of Kazanlak, Mitio Dimitrov studied at the "Kremona" instrument factory and has produced his own master grade violins since 1998.

His instruments are inspired by the works of great Italian masters like Stradivari and Guarneri and he only works with the woods "of excellent sound qualities from the Balkan region." Above all, he prefers to work with naturally dried sycamore and high quality spruce. Furthermore, he has created his own special alcohol varnish.

Mitio Dimitrov is a member of the Bulgarian regional Association of the Master-luthiers and the Chamber of Handicraftsmen. He participates in exhibitions and competitions in Bulgaria and in the International competition in Trienne (Italia).

In fact, in 2009 at the 12th International Triennial Competition his violin ranked 12th Place of the 198 violins from around the world.

Musicians from Bulgaria, Italy, Belgium, the United States, Canada and Japan play on his master-grade instruments.

Dimitrov Violins for Sale

Angela Moneff, Bulgaria

Angela Monef, of the Kazanlak region or "Rose city" of Bulgaria, is among Eastern Europe's finest female luthiers.

Moneff studied violin making with her husband, Ivan Stankov who, in turn, studied with makers who graduated from the Cremona School in Italy in the early 1990s.

Moneff is approaching the level of a "master" maker. As a colleague said in compliment of Moneff's refinements, "a real maker always struggles to improves his/her work, so it's a continuous process towards perfection."

Moneff shared with Fiddleheads, "Instrument making is a beautiful, charming magic. One has to have this craft in her heart." Of her training she says, "For me it is exceptionally interesting and I
try to improve all along myself. I am exalted and glowing with happiness to be taken by the luthier’s
craft."

Little-known fact: Moneff is married to Ivan Stankov. She has a son who plays violin and she was formerly an obstetrician, preferring to craft violins. Her Bulgarian name is "Angelina Koleva Moneva Stankova" but she makes violins under her anglicized trade name.

Moneff Violins for Sale

Ivan Stankov, Bulgaria

Ivan Stankov is a Master Luthier among Bulgaria's most respected makers. His instruments are gaining a sparkling reputation for tone, craftsmanship and finishing.

Stankov studied with graduates of the Cremona School in Italy. He uses traditional Italian methods of construction and select well-seasoned European spruce and Balkans maple tone wood.

His violins are finished in the method of England's David Rubio. Here a pine-resin oil varnish is brushed over a special coat of mineral ground. This advanced varnishing technique was developed after many years of studying the genuine violins of Giuseppe Guarneri and Antonio Stradivari.

In 2009 Stankov took part in two contests – in Italy at the Trianalle and in the
European Eufonia Competition. Eufonia saw his viola take 7th place and his cello 6th place!

Fiddleheads sometimes carries rare "crazy back" violins by Stankov. They are nicknamed "crazy back" violins for the intensely flamed woods used on the back plates. Only a couple crazy backs are made each year owing to the rare supply of this incredible wood.

Stankov lives in the Kazanlak region or "Rose city" of Bulgaria with his wife, Angela Moneff, who is also a fine maker.

Stankov Violins for Sale