Harry Vatiliotis : luthier

Evidence tells us that more than 500 professional and amateur violin-makers have been active in Australia since 1820. The professional luminaries include William Dow (1835-1928), John Devereux (1810-1883), Alfred Heaps (1882-1972), Arthur Edward Smith (1880-1978), and Harry Vatiliotis (b.1936). These makers favour the traditional methods of the Cremonese school, committed to the techniques and timbers of Europe. Of course there are innovators, who dare to modify traditional designs, using Australian timbers and technology, but it is a dedicated emulator of traditional methods- the gifted and productive Harry Vatiliotis- who is surely Australia's contemporary Stradivarius. And he works in Concord, not Cremona.