Bellwood Violin - Stephen Bacon

Stephen Bacon came to Ashland, Oregon, in 1979 to perform with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Green Show musicians. He fell in love with Southern Oregon and began making recorders for a number of years before his previous work in historic instrument restoration came to fruition in the form of a string instrument repair business. He has run Bellwood Violin since 1985 with great joy and success. Started as a needed local service it has grown to include an inventory suitable to support the numerous student, amateur and professional musicians of the area.

Stephen began music lessons as a child, has studied many instruments and continues to pursue his interest in historic and ethnic music, though purely with the love of an amateur.

His formal education includes a music degree from El Camino College in Southern California, formal studies with an emphasis in the theory and construction of historic instruments from Cal State Domingues Hills, Extended studies at USC Isomata, UCLA, UC Riverside, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, the Ali Akbar School of Music and recently of Southern Oregon University.

Stephen began working with, making and repairing musical instruments at the age of seventeen, in his grandfather's shop. From ages 16 thru 24 he served a formal apprenticeship in the bicycle trade with Ted Ernst. His training in instrument repair consists of college courses, and minor mentoring by a series of masters, including Rod Cameron (Baroque flute maker). Herb Myers, Joseph Grubauch, David Morse, Michael Klein and the wonderful folks at David Kerr’s shop in Portland have nurtured his skills and provided inspiration in violin work.

He is a strong supporter of Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon and past board member. He performs with the Jefferson Baroque Orchestra, Who’s Hu Chinese Music Ensemble, lectures with the Schuman Collection and has served as an instructor for the SOU Collegium. He is the conservator of the Schuman Musical instrument Collection at SOU. He has served the Oregon Shakespeare Festival as instrument maker, inventor, and restorer.

Stephen is the great-grandson of Edward R. Bacon, accomplished violinist, and owner of the violin shop of John Hornsteiner in Chicago in the early 1900s. Hornsteiner has been referred to as the great teacher of the American school of violinmakers. Stephen's grandfather, John W. Bacon, was a physics professor and inventor. His father, Richard, was an engineer, and his mother, Boney, was an artist and musician.

Staff

David Jones: Retired violin restorer, reseller from San Diego, pupil of David Goodrich, Robert Cauer, and Lewis
Main, current boat builder

Alex Buktenica: Current student, Cremona Scuola

Ingrid Edstrom : Office manager