Volker Beilharz is a violin maker, repairer and restorer working with violins, violas, ‘cellos, basses and their bows. Beginning his professional career in the mid 1980’s he has rapidly gained widespread recognition and a reputation for excellence amongst players and teachers both in Victoria and interstate. His business, Volker Beilharz Violins, offers the full range of services needed by string players However Volker has some areas that are his specialty. He has special interests in three areas. Firstly, making professional-grade new instruments which are sought after for their excellent, balanced tone, ease of response and playability. A second special interest is tonal set-up and adjustment. Thirdly, major restoration of fine old instruments is a fascination. Volker finds in the restoring of an instrument that has received major damage, even those pronounced "impossible", a very suitable challenge for his particular skills and talents. Some of the customers of Volker’s restoration talents include, amongst other professional players, principal players in the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the instrument collection of the Conservatorium of Music at the University of Melbourne. It is, however, Volker’s skill and expertise in the area of tonal set-up and adjustment that forms the backbone of Volker’s reputation as a problem solver and the reason why a large proportion of Melbourne’s professional players and teachers call upon his services regularly. For expert fitting and adjustment of bridges, soundposts, bassbars, neck resetting and grafting Volker Beilharz is the craftsman of choice for many.

Volker’s training in violin repair and making is unusual. He successfully completed two years of a degree as a ‘cellist at the Victorian College of the Arts but was not convinced that being a musician was his true vocation in life. He therefore went on to complete an Arts degree at Melbourne University majoring in History, English literature and Fine Arts, supporting himself during this time as a professional free-lance ‘cellist. It was while preparing to do an Honours year at university that, almost by chance, Volker was offered some work in a Melbourne violin repair workshop. Some time later Volker received what he considers to be the foundation of his training in a two-year period he spent working with David Sayers. Since 1994 Volker has worked under his own name; Volker Beilharz Violins first in Hawthorn and then in Lower Templestowe in Melbourne where he has now worked since 1997.

Volker Beilharz can be contacted at: