Chinese woman wins bronze in int'l violin-making competition

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Chinese teacher and professional viola maker Wang Yanli has taken home a bronze medal at the Malta International Violin Making Competition held on February this year.

The competition, co-organized by the Malta Central Academy of Arts and Italian National Association of Violin Makers, attracted professional and amateur makers from all over the world competing for the titles of best violins, violas, cello and bass bows.

Wang Yanli makes viola parts at her workshop in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan province. /VCG Photo

From selecting and sawing the wood to shaping and carving, making a viola is a highly complex process. The instrument Wang used for the Malta competition took her two years to make.

"Making a high-quality violin needs focused work involving over 100 procedures," Wang told the Chengdu Business Daily when she returned to her hometown in Southwest China's Sichuan. "Every tiny bit of work is crucial."

There are 100 procedures involved in making a viola. /VCG Photo

"For example, the wood for the panel needs to be high quality Jezo spruce, while it's better to use maple for the back part. Subtle differences in the materials, such as the hardness or the humidity of the wood, will affect the performance (of the instrument)," Wang explained.

Wang is a teacher and a professional violin maker based on the Sichuan Conservatory of Music.

Knives, scissors and pliers of all sizes are among the tools needed for the of making a viola. /VCG Photo

A coincident visit to a workshop when she was 18 inspired her career of making the instrument as she was stunned by the process of turning pieces of wood into instruments that created delightful sounds. By that stage, she had been playing violin for 12 years.

She was later able to find a place at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music as an undergraduate student majoring in violin making.

Wang believes that the craft has helped her build a calm character.

(Source: China Daily)

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