Meet our Violin Maker, Hristo Tchechmedjiev, Master Luthier
BIOGRAPHY, HRISTO TCHECHMEDJIEV
Founder, Orpheus Violin House
Plovdiv BG, San Francisco CA, Oakland CA, Sacramento CA,
Tucson Area AZ, Sierra Vista AZ
Hristo Tchechmedjiev was born and raised in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. At an early age, he showed an affinity for music. Not so much playing the notes, but in forging them. "something inside myself,"
he tried to explain (excerpts from an interview with Bob Sylvia of THE SACRAMENTO BEE,
February, 1994).
In his still fledgling English "A feeling to work with the wood."
At 14, he entered a noted violin making school in Bulgaria. For the next five years, Tchechmedjiev became adept at crafting the entire family of stringed instruments. He served an apprenticeship in a violin-making company and in 1954 opened his own shop at home. Later, in 1970, he named his business Orpheus Violin House.
Hristo became very prolific, making violins, violas, cellos, bass, guitars, mandolins, bows,
professional instruments, students instruments--everything imaginable that had strings on it.
In Bulgaria, it was becoming nearly impossible to get crucial materials like ebony and costly resins and to work in the way of the artist. So, he decided to move to a place where he could be free to work the way he needed. Hristo chose the United States. He found his chance on a 1982 visit to Cremona, Italy, where his violin, viola and cello had won medals and a Diploma from the
International Competition for Luthiers,
"Antonio Stradivari" in 1979.
In 1983, Hristo Tchechmedjiev arrived in San Francisco from Italy. During this period, he concentrated on violins, violas and cellos, perfecting the acoustical techniques he practices today.
It was in San Francisco California that he founded his business, Orpheus Violin House, in the USA.
In 1987, he moved Orpheus Violin House, USA to Sacramento California.
In 2003, Hristo moved to Arizona, establishing an additional branch, Orpheus Violin House in the Tucson area as well as Sierra Vista. In 2018 two of his violins won medals for tone - one gold and one silver - from the Violin Makers Association of Arizona International.
