In 1984, Robert Ray began repairing violins and bows. By 1992, he directed his full attention to the making, repair, and history of bows. Robert spent the next seven years making bows and doing bow restoration. He has worked in the shops of David T. Stone Violins and Hans Weisshaar Inc, as well as performing restorations in his own shop for major dealers throughout the United states. He met Georg Albeck at the Hans Weisshaar shop in L.A., and in 1999 they formed a partnership here in Olympia. By 2001, Robert took full ownership of the shop. Robert travels around the world, working with makers and dealers to provide the highest level of instruments and bows to our clientele. Players, collectors and dealers have come to rely on Robert's knowledge and expertise when acquiring or selling their instruments. Robert is a member of the International Pernambuco Conservation Initiative (IPCI), and the Violin Society of America (VSA), has written several bow-making and restoration articles which have been published in various books, and is a contributing author for the book The Conservation, Restoration, and Repair of Stringed Instruments and Their Bows. He also wrote the book The Little Pernambuco Tree, which was illustrated by local school kids before being published. It was later orchestrated by Mark Thome and premiered by the Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia in 2010. The proceeds of the book benefit the IPCI.
Jon Hanson is an Alaskan native, but he came to Bellingham in the early 90's to play violin at Western Washington University, where he graduated in 1997 with a degree in music. Jon has traveled extensively through Europe, studying and performing music. He lived in Hungary for several years, studying baroque music and the art of baroque violin bow-making. On his return to the United states in 2004, he began his bow-making apprenticeship with Robert Ray. His knowledge as a maker and restorer (as well as his playing ability) is a great asset to our customers. Jon is now our shop manager and part owner of R.L. Ray Violin Shop as of January 1st, 2010. He does bow rehairs, repairs, restorations and new bow making for the shop. He is also a violinist in the Olympia Symphony and an active member of the community, musically and otherwise.
A retired nurse, Tess Ray enjoys working in the violin shop managing the office. Originally a pianist, she took up violin playing as a hobby at the age of 35. She enjoys playing in local community orchestras, is a current member of WOTFA and has placed in several state fiddling contests. In past years, Tess was busy homeschooling her daughter Heather and was actively involved in the CHOSS homeschool group as secretary of the board. At home she has designed extensive gardens including a large pond area and enjoys planning and scheduling events for the shop. She enjoys camping, hiking and traveling with Robert. A music lover and hobby musician, she finds it rewarding to help other musicians, young and old, to achieve their musical goals.
Growing up on a farm on the scenic banks of the Chehalis River, Bonnie Glerum learned to be independent, drive the farm tractor, assist with milking the herd, and harvesting the hay. Bonnie was actively involved in school and enjoyed horseback riding as a hobby. She also enjoyed working in her mother's cottage garden and learned the art of preserving foods and culinary delights. Bonnie graduated from H.S. and went on to college to major in bookkeeping. She later married her highschool sweetheart, and they have 3 beautiful daughters. We were fortunate to add Bonnie to the office staff in 2004, where her sense of humor and outgoing personality is appreciated by all!
Cheryl Nizam was born and raised in Andover, Massachusetts where she began playing violin at the age of six. Throughout her life, Cheryl performed regularly in orchestras and chamber ensembles, including as a student at Phillips Academy and Kenyon College. Her aspiration to become a luthier began while completing a college semester in Florence, Italy where she visited the shop of a local violin maker. Struck by the elegance of the art, Cheryl decided to pursue a career in lutherie. After graduation from Kenyon, Cheryl attended the Chicago School of Violin Making where she studied under the tutelage of Tschu Ho Lee. While in Chicago, she worked at the shop of William Harris Lee and Carl Becker and Son.
In 2000, Cheryl and her husband moved to Olympia, WA, where she worked in the Applebaum Violin Shop performing instrument repair and restoration. Cheryl continues to build instruments and enjoys playing classical violin, gardening and spending time with her husband and two children.
Barbara Butler moved to Olympia in 2021. She grew up playing the violin in the Midwest and North Carolina before moving to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is still an active violinist, served as Concertmaster of the Washington (PA) Symphony Orchestra, and has performed with the Charlotte Philharmonic, Edgewood Symphony, and Pittsburgh Savoyards, among other groups. She earned a Bachelor's degree in French Language and Literature from Davidson College in North Carolina.
Barbara took a circuitous route to lutherie. Needing a break from work in the non-profit sector, she apprenticed with a cabinetmaker designing and building custom furniture. Her woodworking skills transferred over to violins when she began apprenticing at a violin shop in Pittsburgh, learning instrument repair and restoration. She is a regular participant in the Oberlin instrument restoration workshops. Barbara enjoys spending time with her husband and family, and is an active hiker, biker, and outdoorsperson.
New to our staff in 2022, Isaac Allen moved to Tacoma in 2020. Originally from Colorado, Isaac found a second home in the Rocky Mountains, and continues being an avid hiker with a great love for the outdoors. He began playing violin as a young child, moving on to study violin performance at Indiana University Bloomington's Jacobs School of Music. As an orchestral performer, he has performed with orchestras such as the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. He also has a wealth of experience playing chamber music, and has performed as a soloist with orchestras throughout high school and college. In addition to music and spending time with nature, Isaac can often be found immersed in the rich worlds of fantasy books.
Justin Dubish grew up playing cello in Southern California, and went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in cello performance from Chapman University. He then obtained an apprenticeship in violin making and restoration at Hans Weisshaar Inc, in Los Angeles. After his apprenticeship he journeyed to the Midwest, where he worked at the Violin Shop of Old Carmel, near Indianapolis. Here in the Pacific Northwest, he has worked as restorer for David T. Stone Violins and Raphael Carrabba Violins.
Over the years, Justin has faithfully restored and maintained instruments and bows for members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Seattle Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, and countless others. He also has made five violins, two cellos, and one cello bow in his free time.