IJMKJE VAN DER WERF

While studying musicology and playing the violin I became interested in the making of violins.
I made my first violin with my local violin maker, Göran Tidström, in 2004. After completing musicology (MA, Utrecht University, The Netherlands, 2005) and the Newark Violin Making School in the UK (upper merit 2008), I worked for seven years with cello specialists Robin Aitchison and Sarah Mnatzaganian (link here) in Ely in the UK, and did work experiences with several other violin experts: Anette Fajardo in London, Guust François in Amsterdam, Helen Michetschläger in Manchester, Andreas Post in Amsterdam and Matthew Wing in London.
Now I make and restore violins, violas and cellos from home in Ely.
I still like to work with other violin makers on a regular basis, and also regularly attend courses and workshops, such as the BVMA (British Violin making Association) Restoration course and the Oberlin Violin Making Workshop and Restoration Workshop in the US, and other seminars and study days.