With locations in South Burlington, Vermont, and West Lebanon, New Hampshire, Vermont Violins reaches a wide geographic area to service professional musicians throughout the Northeast. It is dedicated to promoting the study of violins, violas, cellos, and bass. Co-owner Kathy Reilly is a violist who studied at the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music. Partner and husband Oren Kronick also attended Oberlin, where he studied history. Outside of the shop, Kathy and Oren enjoy skiing, hiking with their dog Ziya, and taking care of their donkeys at their home in the mountains of Duxbury.

The workshop is staffed with outstanding luthiers who bring extensive knowledge and professional training, both in instrument making and repair and as performers and teachers of music. The six luthiers include Claire Rowan (Chicago School of Violinmaking), Jong-Won Lee (Chicago School of Violin Making), Marcus Bretto (North Bennet Street School), Marit Danielson (Manhattan School of Music) Paige Henson (St. Lawrence University, Violin Making School of America), and Young-Ju Kim (Chicago School of Violin Making).

The company has a rental program that is an affordable way to provide high-quality instruments for the new and advancing string players. All rentals involve an equity component, for example. As an individual continues to rent, he or she will accumulate equity that can be used to purchase an instrument. Equity accrues at 2/3, so there remains a rental component. Individuals may buy out whenever they choose or convert to a no-interest finance plan. They are obligated, however, to continuing to rent through the end of their current term, at which point the instrument can be returned with no further obligation. For further details on rentals, visit www.vermontviolins.com/rental-faqs.

A critical component of the company’s operations is being a model employer. As such, it offers generous wage and salary packages plus health, vacation, retirement, and training compensation. Furthermore, its mission is to foster music in the community while providing high-quality and excellent service. To this end, a significant portion of the company’s net profits is donated toward the presentation of music in the surrounding community. It actively donates to promote educational and artistic events in the region while supporting the larger performing venues, including the Vermont Youth Orchestra, the Green Mountain Youth Symphony, the Upper Valley Music Center, the Summit School, and the Concord Community Music School. The company also helps to support summer camps, promote master classes, and enable performers to present solo recitals—all under its Cultural Sponsorship Program.

For more information, call (802) 427-7084 (5 Green Tree Drive, South Burlington, Vermont) or (603) 298-7198 (The Gatehouse, PowerHouse Mall, 8 Glen Road, West Lebanon, New Hampshire).