Violin trivia: Can you beat the VSA’s top brains?

There’s more than just lectures, presentations and demonstrations at the Violin Society of America’s 2024 convention. On Wednesday night, lutherie expert (and occasional Strad writer) David Bonsey presided over a charity auction to raise funds for the VSA’s scholarship fund. The evening raised over $22,000 with many in attendance giving very generously; almost half of the lots came from the collection of the late Michael Molnar, with a set of four of his unfinished violins making almost $900. And the night before, delegates were treated to a violin trivia night hosted by Jerry Lynn and Brandon Godman. Many of the questions were based around the content of the presentations, as well as several on the VSA itself, but here are the ten questions from the Miscellaneous round:

1. What 2009 movie featured Jamie Foxx as a homeless cellist with schizophrenia?
2. What 1999 movie featured Meryl Streep in a biographical movie about the founding of the Opus 118 Harlem School of Music?
3. Gene Wilder fakes playing the violin in what movie?
4. What are the names of the publications for (a) the Violin Society of America, (b) the British Violin Making Association?
5. ‘The Violin Chronicles’ podcast is hosted by whom? (She’ll also have an article in The Strad’s January issue!)
6. What is the name of the album most recently released by Augustin Hadelich?
7. Which violist, for his contributions to the recording industry, has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?
8. Which Los Angeles area-based general music store, with a vibrant violin department, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year? Their original store was in Long Beach.
9. Which violin shop in Philadelphia is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year?
10. Which Grammy award-winning fiddler/singer is currently touring as a duo with the lead singer of Led Zeppelin?

And for anyone who found that too easy, here are some questions on the convention’s two main themes: Markneukirchen and the Amati family:

1. Markneukirchen is the main town in a small instrument-making region known by what name? (Two possible answers)
2. Renowned jazz bassist Charles Mingus played a bass by what prestigious 20th-century Markneukirchen firm?
3. Who was the Markneukirchen bow maker who famously made bows for Kittel?
4. Which town near Erlangen, Germany, is sometimes referred to as the ‘New Schonbach’ after receiving a large number of displaced German violin makers from Bohemia following World War II?
5. Who was the first maker of the Amati family?
6. How many Amatis are exhibited in the rare instrument exhibit?
7. What nearly wiped out all of the luthiers in Cremona around 1630?
8. How old did Nicolò Amati live to be?
9. Where can you view the Andrea Amati ‘King’ cello?
10. Which famous Markneukirchen bow making family did the father and son die one year apart in the 20th century?

Good luck! The most hotly anticipated event of the day is the awards ceremony for the VSA’s International Violin Making Competition, which takes place on Thursday evening. This year saw a total of 518 instruments entered: 204 violins, 104 violas, 62 cellos and 12 double basses, plus 34 quartets. Also, 82 bows were entered: 27 for violin, 17 viola, 29 cello and 9 double bass. With so many entries, it’s hats off to the 42 judges for managing to make a decision!

ANSWERS

Miscellaneous

1. The Soloist
2. Music of the Heart
3. Young Frankenstein
4. (a) The Scroll (b) The Quarterly
5. Linda Lespets
6. American Road Trip
7. William Primrose (at 6801 Hollywood Blvd)
8. Morey’s Music Store in Lakewood, CA
9. Frederick W. Oster Fine Violins
10. Alison Krauss

Markneukirchen/Amati family 

1. Musikwinkel/Vogtland
2. Ernst Heinrich Roth
3. Karl Heinrich Knopf
4. Bubenreuth
5. Andrea Amati
6. 19
7. The plague
8. 87 (3 September 1596–12 April 1684)
9. National Music Museum in Vermillion, South Dakota
10. Nürnberger (Carl Albert and Karl Albert II)

Posters

The Strad’s exclusive instrument posters, most with actual-size photos depicting every nuance of the instrument. Our posters are used by luthiers across the world as models for their own instruments, thanks to the detailed outlines and measurements on the back.

Books

The number one source for a range of books covering making and stringed instruments with commentaries from today’s top instrument experts.

Calendars

The Canada Council of the Arts’ Musical Instrument Bank is 40 years old in 2025. This year’s calendar celebrates some its treasures, including four instruments by Antonio Stradivari and priceless works by Montagnana, Gagliano, Pressenda and David Tecchler.