Victor Bernard Bowmaker
Victor BERNARD was born in 1985 near Paris, France.
He studied at the International School of Violinmaking in Newark, England, graduating in 2008.
Fascinated by bow making, he joined the Maison Bernard in Brussels, where he worked alongside Pierre Guillaume, who passed on his passion for old bows and taught him how to restore them.
He continued his apprenticeship with renowned bow makers such as Emmanuel Carlier, Georges Tepho, Eric Granchamp and Yannick Le Canu.
In 2014, Victor joined the Flagey workshop in Brussels, where he works alongside luthier Joanne Van Bosterhaut.
Victor is an organiser member of Ekho in Belgium and Klanggestalten in Germany, associations created for the promotion of contemporary violin and bow making through exhibitions, concerts, mastrecalsses.
The Marcel Vatelot Foundation awarded him a grant in 2014 to help him develop his workshop and prepare for international bow-making competitions.
In 2024, with six gold medals, he was awarded “Hors Concours” status at the Violin Society of America International Competition, meaning he is no longer eligible to submit his work.
He regularly takes part in international bow-making exhibitions in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, England, Ireland, United States and Japan.
Awards
- Status of « Hors Concours » at Violin Society Of America International Competition
- VSA Violin Society of America (2024 Indianapolis): Gold medals– violin, viola, cello and bass
- VSA Violin Society of America (2022 Los Angeles): Gold Medal – violin, Certificat of Merit – viola – cello
- Viola’s Paris 2019: First Prize Bow making
- VSA Violin Society of America (2018 Cleveland): Gold Medal – Bass, Certificat of Merit – violin – viola – cello
- International Bow making Competition Mittenwald, Germany (2018): Silver medal – viola – cello
- VSA Violin Society of America (2016 Cleveland): Certificat of Merit – violin
- Viola’s 2016: Coup de coeur from Genviève STROSSER
- VSA Violin Society of America (2014 Indianapolis): Certificat of Merit – violin
- International Bow making Competition Mittenwald, Germany (2014): Gold medal – viola, Bronze medal – cello
- Violoncelle en Seine, Paris (2012): Finalist Certificat
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