The first day of the Violin Society of America’s international convention featured a presentation by luthier Andrew Carruthers on his experimental ’Off-Beat’ violins based on patterns found in nature.

On social media, the main question on readers’ lips was: ‘But how do they sound?’ So we asked award-winning musician Jordan Bak - one of the tone judges at the VSA’s International Violin Making Competition - to demonstrate.

As well as being assistant professor of viola at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Jordan contributed the Technique article to The Strad’s November 2024 issue.

The VSA convention continues until Friday 23 November, with the competition results to be announced on Thursday. 

Read: Violin Society of America’s 50th convention kicks off in Indianapolis

Read: Making Matters: Off-Beat Violins

Read: Technique: Jordan Bak on finding flexibility in the left hand

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Violin Society of America’s 50th convention kicks off in Indianapolis