Makers Bios

Mark Hollinger

I began making instruments in 1974 at age 16. In 1983 I graduated from the Violin Making School of America in Salt Lake City after completing four years of study.

As a further step toward establishing my professional credentials, I worked in San Francisco with Roland Feller (one of the finest shops in the country) doing repair and restoration work, much of it for members of the San Francisco Symphony and guest artists. While there I was able to study and handle some of the most renowned instruments of the Cremonese masters.

I also have spent time in Europe studying the finest Cremonese instruments, which is the style I emulate while incorporating my own designs.

In November 1984 in Ottawa I took part in my first competition at age 26, which was sponsored by the Violin Making Society of America. I won two awards there. My violin was chosen as one of the six finalists from more than a hundred others and was singled out for its concert hall tonal quality by every judge.

At the start of my career, I found this very gratifying. Since then I have received numerous other awards in international competitions for both tone and craftsmanship.

Further more, I am a member of  the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers.

Feel free to email me at hollinger@montana.com
or give me a call, 406-542-2012.

 

Best regards,

 

Mark

Christopher Dungey

Christopher Dungey is a violin maker specializing in the new making of cellos. He graduated from The Newark School of Violin Making in England with 'Distinction' in 1982. After returning to the states he worked in Los Angeles for Hans Weisshaar and Thomas Metzler learning the fine art of restoration. Chris has a degree in double bass performance from the University of Oregon. His teacher was Robert Hladky who taught both the cello and bass students. It is from those years of cello exposure that Chris Dungey brings a unique understanding of the cello sound to his cello making today. He has been cutting and collecting cello wood since his student days in England. This unusual position of acquiring his raw materials has helped him to have a better understanding of how to utilize the wood for each new cello to its fullest potential. He is a current member of the AFVBM Inc. and has won numerous cello-making awards.

Today Chris lives with his wife and daughter in the hills south of Pocatello Idaho. He makes cellos in a new shop on his property with a stunning view of the surrounding Portneuf, and Bannock mountains. In addition to being a husband and father, he performs regularly in local orchestras. He has a love of jazz and performs whenever he gets invited to "sit in" with his bass. Chris is also an avid cyclist. As he approaches cello number 100, he continues to educate himself and tirelessly researches the answers to his curiosities about everything cello. Chris realized many years ago that while he was having great success with his cellos, he could never rest on those laurels. He has an insatiable need to understand why and how something works. He has traveled to many parts of the world to experience first hand everything from leaders in the field of violinmaking, to priceless instruments, and even to the source of his varnish resin in New Zealand. He works with cellists that now reach around the world, in every performing level from student to superstar. Since 2004 Chris has been attending the Oberlin acoustics workshop in order to stay current with all the technological understanding of the field today. Looking to the future, Chris is involved with product development. He finds himself helping others with their products or even creating his own in order to have the accessories needed to achieve playability and sound quality for the cellos he makes.

At the end of the day, for Chris, it is all about what he can do to help maximize each individual cello's voice for you, the cellist.