MY SPACE
MICHALIS PANTELIDES
LUTHIER
A peek into lutherie workshops around the world
Lutherie
Nicosia, Cyprus
ALL PHOTOS MICHALIS PANTELIDES
LOCATION
Iwas born in Nicosia, so it was natural for me to set up a workshop here. I opened MP Violins in 2006, after returning from Cremona where I spent five years at the Violin Making School, two years learning bow making with Giovanni Lucchi, and then an apprenticeship with Toshiyuki Matsushita. I believe I’m the only Cypriot ever to have learnt violin making in Cremona, and mine is still the only professional violin workshop in Nicosia, although there are one or two amateur makers and repairers around the island. Violin playing is quite important in Cypriot culture; it features in a lot of our traditional folk music, and it’s customary to have a violin and lute playing at wedding ceremonies. There’s also a professional orchestra based in Nicosia, as well as a youth symphony orchestra and the University of Cyprus has recently set up a programme to foster young violin talent, so there’s always plenty of work!