Earlier this summer, the Rowan Armour-Brown (RAB) Memorial Trust Fund launched a new initiative to train violin-making students in the fine skill of bow re-hairing.
Eight students were chosen to attend the course hosted by Chris Beament at Cambridge Violin Makers, with their places fully funded and bow hair supplied by Sowdens.
The brainchild of RAB Trust chair Libby Summers, supported by the other trustees – Mark Robinson, Judith Blackwell, Adam Winskill, Sheena Laurie, Lauri Tanner, Thomas Padday-Muir and Luke Lindforth-Delaney – the RAB Trust Bow Course had been two years in the making and aims to plug a gap in education and skills. It forms part of RAB Trust’s wider work to support students of violin making in the UK with financial grants, specialised additional training and work experience placements.
With training from two of the country’s best bow re-hairers, Jutta Walcher and Gilbert Cox, the eight students who attended have graduated with skills in re-hairing and revitalising worn out bows.
Find out more about the charity at rabtrust.org