stefan johann krattenmacher
My work
The many masterpieces of the great makers of the 17th and 18th Century, which I have had the opportunity to restore, provide me with a continuous source of inspiration.
However, my work is equally influenced by my every day life.
With each symphony I hear vibrating with energy, with every musician who visits my workshop, with a particular late-night concert, or when encountering an unexpected street musician, my idea of the sounds I wish to create in my own instruments are altered and illuminated.
Inspiration also comes from anything that is moving me: the sight of a piece of wood, the sound of a brook playing with pebbles or the quietness of a landscape. It may come whilst stood on the peak of a mountain, or whilst simply lying beneath a tree.
Playing the instruments myself serves as a useful perfection process, and a way of discovering if my ideas can bear fruit.
About me
Born in Tegernsee, a small alpine village south of Munich, Germany, I come from a family of woodworkers and musicians. Growing up in my father’s furniture workshop, I started learning the double bass at fourteen and became the first violin maker in the Krattenmacher family. After completing my initial training at the Mittenwald Violin Making School and working for three years in Germany, I spent a number of years working for various established makers in countries as diverse as Hong Kong, Australia and England. In this context i also spent eigt years working in london where i gained much experience and built up various contacts to orchester and musicians
This time abroad enabled me to gain invaluable experience of other violin making schools and allowed me to develop myself mentally, technically and stylistically from the German tradition.
It is the combination of my German training and my eclectic work experience that makes me the maker I am today.
Since 2012 I am the conductor of the Ettenheim Chamber Orchestra, I regulary play in other regional orchestras and chamber groups.
CV:
1984 – 1987 violin maker apprenticeship with Anton Holzlechner, Neumarkt St.Veith and Geigenbauschule Mittenwald
1987 – 1988 E.H. Roth , Budenreuth
1988-1991 Benedikt Lang , Mittenwald
1992 Sandra Wagstaff, Hong Kong
1993 John Ferwerda, Melbourne , Australien
1994 Joachim Roy, Mittenwald
1994-1996 Florian Leonhardt, London
1996 Masterdegree Mittenwald and special award for best test
1996 opening own workshop in West Kennsington, London, England
2002 workshop move to Berlin-Mitte
2007 workshop move to Münchweier, Baden Württemberg,
2018 winner of makers competition in Lucca, Italien
2023 winner of makers competition in Namur, Belgium
