ROGER ZABINSKI Master Bow Maker

As one of his generation's most respected traditional bow makers, Roger personifies a passion for excellence in bow making. Handcrafting fine pernambuco bows in the French tradition for or over 30 years, Roger has developed a style that is recognized worldwide for its elegance and playability. As instruments of the trade, his bows are in the hands of some of the finest players of our time. As works of art, a quartet of his bows have earned permanent residence in the Smithsonian Institution’s musical instrument collection, with numerous awards and a Gold medal from the Violin Society of America.Timelessly elegant and richly playable, Roger’s bows are a mindful balance of art and science that reflect his journey to becoming a master bow maker.

Consistent with his personality, Roger blended both artistic and scientific approaches to bow making during his long period of training as an internationally recognized bow maker. His first teacher, Martin Beilke, was a master bow maker who had an early career in mechanics and engineering; those who played Martin's bows is a Who's Who List of the performing artists of his generation. Roger absorbed Beilke's extraordinary technical grasp of the fine bow: taper, weight, stiffness, and balance. Learning the finest French methods of bowmaking with William Salchow of New York, Roger's aesthetic sensibilities became finely honed. The art and science of Roger's bows reflect the man himself.

Roger is a career-long member of the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers.