My name is Wladek (Walter) Stopka.

I have been a luthier for over 30 years.
Born and raised in Poland, I started practicing violin making in 1978 in Krakow Poland in the shop of a very well known Polish Violin Maker.
In 1989 I migrated to the U.S. with my family. For the last 20 years I have been making instruments in my own shop located in the Southwest Suburbs of Chicago, IL.
My specialty is in the Stradivarius models. I use high quality, old European wood for all my instruments and making my own varnish adds to the quality of finishes which vary from Modern to Antique.