Vitae

As an 8-year-old I started learning to play the cello. House music took a firm place in our family life. When I visited a violin maker who repaired my cello, he drew my attention to this beautiful profession.

After a long search I found an apprenticeship with the experienced violin maker Werner Voigt in Markneukirchen. During my journeyman days, I discovered that this profession is also my calling. In 1984 I passed the master’s examination in Markneukirchen and in 1986 I set up my own business in Bad Brambach.

Due to the fall of the wall, I was able to learn from other violin makers. From 1991 to 1993 I worked with violin maker Hubert Schnorr in Stade. This time opened up new horizons for me. I got to know new materials, as well as repair and restoration techniques. In addition, I was able to study the classical schools of violin making on many instruments. My enthusiasm for beautiful string instruments and bows grew during this time.

Since 1994 I have been working in Dresden – Strehlen.

By making music in my parents’ house, I had contact with musical instruments from an early age. At the age of 7 I began to learn tenor horn. Later I switched to baritone horn and tuba, as well as to violin. Since I have always been interested in craftsmanship, this connection and the tradition of my hometown Klingenthal gave rise to the desire to become a violin maker. In 2006 I started training as a violin maker. This allowed me to join a long family history, which goes back to the famous Caspar Hopf, who was born in 1659.

After my successful graduation, I started working at Joachim Zimmermann in Dresden as a violin-making companion. During this time, it was possible to take part in various workshops (restoration with Jean-Jacques Fasnacht, bow making with Rüdiger Pfau and sound setting). This way made it possible for me to complete the master training in 2018. After more than 10 years of cooperation, I will be in business partnership in our violin workshop with Joachim Zimmermann from January 2020.