The renowned French luthier and restorer was 69 years old
The French luthier Patrick Robin has died at the age of 69 after a long battle with illness. He was a highly respected violin maker and restorer, having won several awards and served on the juries at international competitions.
Born in Rochefort-sur-Loire in 1955, Robin trained at the UK’s Newark School of Violin Making. After graduating in 1984, he moved to Bremen to join an international team of restorers led by Roger Hargrave.
He moved to Angers in 1988 where he opened the ‘Atelier Robin & Frandsen’ with fellow violin maker Andrea Frandsen. In 2006 he moved to Les Ponts-de-Cé on the banks of the Loire river, close to his birthplace.
In 1991 Robin received two gold medals, for a violin and cello, at the first International Violin Making Competition of Paris. He also received the Prix de l’Académie des Beaux-Arts and the Prix de la Fondation Marcel Vatelot at the event.
Robin also received gold medals for a viola at the 1989 Mittenwald Competition and for a cello at the 1994 Manchester Strad Cello Making Competition. In November 2000 he was given the title ‘Maître d’Art’ by the French Ministry of Culture.
‘I’m developing my own sound ideals by learning from the constant exchanges I have with musicians, and by going to concerts,’ Robin told The Strad in an interview in 2017.
‘There should be a common language to describe sound production, sensations and character, as many players and makers have different vocabularies and points of view as regards talking about sound.’
Read: Patrick Robin on what he looks for as a competition juror
Read: Results announced for the Henryk Wieniawski International Violin Making Competition
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