I was born with the name Sharon Querciagrossa and shortly thereafter it was changed for ease in pronunciation. Querciagrossa is difficult to pronounce but I like the origins of it. It literally translates as “big oak” but when I speak with my relatives from Emilia Romagna in Italy the more accurate local definition is “the most robust oak tree on the mountain”.

I completed my undergraduate studies at University of Michigan, School of Art, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. The following year I started my woodworking career with an apprenticeship at General Motors for Wood Model Making. When completed I received my journeyman’s card in this rare and wonderful program. In this apprenticeship I developed my skills of precision woodworking and the ability to analyze forms in two and three dimensions.

So then with my fine arts degree and a journeyman’s card in wood model making, I entered into the violin world through the shop of Curtin and Alf as a violin making assistant. I worked there 7 years refining my ability to work in a precise way with repeatable results, designing jigs and tools to aid in this process and developing a core knowledge of the violin and how it functions. I then continued with Joseph Curtin Studios another 5 years. All this time was very well spent expanding my violin knowledge and woodworking skills on interesting projects amongst fantastic makers.

In 2001 I opened my violin shop with most of my time being devoted to my clients, restoring their violins and violas. I also offer for sale a nice selection of antique instruments that have been brought back to excellent playing condition, contemporary instruments and violins I have made myself. My education has been in the form of teacher and student and has been important in developing my skills and business. Here are a few milestones in my career.

My professional interests extend to my ongoing work in sculpture. There is a great relationship I have between working on violins and sculpture with each one informing the other.