Violin World is dedicated to quality worksmanship, specialising in preservation, repairs, restoration, new making, and the sale of fine instruments.
Meet John D. Ferwerda
John was born in Haarlem, Netherlands in 1942 and immigrated to New Zealand in 1952 with his parents. In 1964 John studied cello at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, Adelaide with James Whitehead and then played in the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Later he studied the viola da gamba with Hans Bol, Wieland Kuijken and Johannes Koch. In 1968 John moved to Amsterdam and began working with Rudolf van Merrebach, where he decided to apply to study at the Mittenwald School for Violinmaking in Bavaria, Germany. He graduated in 1973 after 3 ½ years. In 1973 John also learnt with Hans Klotz and Karl Sandner outside of the school. John studied bow restoration with Charles Alfred Bazin in Mirecourt. He then spent time with Hans Weisshaar in California learning advanced restoration techniques. John moved to Melbourne in 1978 after a short time in Adelaide. Most of his instruments have been made here in Melbourne.
John has won two prestigious Violin Society of America Workmanship Awards in 1978 for Cello, and 1982 for Violin.
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