Gregg Alf
Encyclopedia
Gregg T. Alf is a prominent contemporary American violin maker based in Ann Arbor, Michigan
.
Alf made his first violin
in 1975. Later, he spent 8 years in Cremona
, Italy
, where he graduated from the International Violin Making School and established a growing reputation for his work.
In 1984 Gregg returned to the United States
, and together with Joseph Curtin
, founded the violin-making studios of Curtin & Alf. His partnership with Joseph Curtin attracted the attention of numerous stars of the violin world, including Elmar Oliveira and Ruggiero Ricci. In 1993 a Curtin and Alf violin made for Oliveira set a record at a Sotheby's auction for the highest price paid for a violin by a living maker. In 1997 he opened Alf Studios at the same location in Ann Arbor.
Replicas of classic Italian instruments form the basis of his work. Aside his more traditional work, Gregg also investigates science and technology to better understand the acoustical foundations of his craft. Since 1996 he has been a faculty member at the Oberlin Summer Violin Making Workshops. In recent years he has become a recognized expert on the acoustical properties of violins. He has also received numerous awards from the Violin Society of America for his work.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Alf made his first violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
in 1975. Later, he spent 8 years in Cremona
Cremona
Cremona is a city and comune in northern Italy, situated in Lombardy, on the left bank of the Po River in the middle of the Pianura Padana . It is the capital of the province of Cremona and the seat of the local City and Province governments...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, where he graduated from the International Violin Making School and established a growing reputation for his work.
In 1984 Gregg returned to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and together with Joseph Curtin
Joseph Curtin
Joseph Curtin is a contemporary violinmaker.Established in Ann Arbor, co-founder with Gregg Alf of the firm Curtin & Alf.He was a 2005 recipient of a MacArthur Fellows Program "genius grant". He has also directed workshops on violin design through the Violin Society of America, a group of...
, founded the violin-making studios of Curtin & Alf. His partnership with Joseph Curtin attracted the attention of numerous stars of the violin world, including Elmar Oliveira and Ruggiero Ricci. In 1993 a Curtin and Alf violin made for Oliveira set a record at a Sotheby's auction for the highest price paid for a violin by a living maker. In 1997 he opened Alf Studios at the same location in Ann Arbor.
Replicas of classic Italian instruments form the basis of his work. Aside his more traditional work, Gregg also investigates science and technology to better understand the acoustical foundations of his craft. Since 1996 he has been a faculty member at the Oberlin Summer Violin Making Workshops. In recent years he has become a recognized expert on the acoustical properties of violins. He has also received numerous awards from the Violin Society of America for his work.