Hermann Janzen was born in 1951 in Ibirama, Santa Catarina, Brazil to the illustrious Luthier, researcher and author Gustav Janzen and his wife Maria Janzen. As a young child, he visited his father’s workbench, learning how to sharpen and use the handsaw, planes, chisels and gouges.

At nine years of age Hermann began a two year journey to build his first instrument; a full size violin built entirely from Brazilian woods. His education included his father’s research and skill in plate tuning, air resonances and how they interact to produce the wonderful sound known as the “Italian Sound”. He studied Cello with the well known music teacher and conductor Ludwig Seier.