Jürgen Manthey

I was born 1965 in the southern Schwarzwald region of Germany. On completion of my second level education I studied geology and palaeontology which left me with a lot of free time for music-making and to pursue violinmaking courses in Cambridge. Following an apprenticeship with Hamburg-based violinmaker Andreas Hampel, my hobby became my profession.
I then did my diploma years at Andreas Augustin’s atelier in Staufen and at Christian Erichson’s atelier in Hannover. Following completion of my Master Craftsman diploma in 2004 I have worked independently in my own atelier in Leipzig since then.
My instruments have been awarded many international prizes for sound and craftsmanship at international violinmaking competitions (Jacobus-Stainer-Wettbewerb Freiburg and the BVMA competition London).

Carsten Niggemann

I was born in 1974 in Speyer in the Palatine region and having completed my second level education I trained initially as a carpenter, specialising in furniture restoration.
As an amateur violinist, I was keen to link my passion for violin playing with my knowledge of woodwork. Following an apprenticeship in violinmaking at the atelier of Christian Erichson in Hannover I worked for 6 years completing my apprenticeship with Kristin Vasterling in Stuttgart. Following completion of my Master Craftsman diploma (with distinction) in Hamburg in 2010 I have worked together with Jürgen Manthey in the atelier in Leipzig where there is also a selection of my own Violins and Violas.