Ada Schenck is a violin maker and restorer from Vermont, USA. She is a graduate of the Violin Making and Repair program at Boston’s North Bennet Street School, where she studied under master maker Roman Barnas. Ada graduated with honors, receiving the Excellence in Craftsmanship award from the NBSS board of advisors.

Ada is currently based in Essex, Vermont, where she focuses on the making of new violins, violas, and soon cellos. She also offers repair and restoration services on an appointment only basis.

Previously Ada has served as the Head of Workshop for Jovial Cellos and Violins in Boston, and as New Making and Restoration Assistant to Christian Schabbon.

A childhood spent between the woods of rural Vermont, her father’s cabinet shop, and the endless creative projects of a young homeschooler led to Ada spending her teen years as a professional handweaver and dyer, as well as ten years of fiddle playing. These diverse experiences made violin making a natural career choice, a combination of all her major interests and skill sets.

Ada builds high quality violins and violas following the methods and patterns of the great 17th and 18th century Cremonese masters. Using premier materials, precise workmanship, and careful attention to detail, her instruments are highly playable and satisfying for the demands of today’s musicians.