Instrument Maker & Shop Manager (Louisville)

Zack Johnson grew up in Roseburg, Oregon, where he spent his time making, building, and carving a multitude of projects. He also felt a strong draw to both Irish fiddle tunes and classical violin music at a young age. Naturally, the first time he picked up a violin he had to make one. So he sought instruction from a local maker, David Dunn, and began building his first violin in the Italian tradition in 2006. That was enough to get him hooked and he decided to pursue formal training at The Violin Making School of America, where he graduated from a few years later. Following graduation, Zack worked in professional shops across the country as a restorer and award-winning instrument maker, working on instruments from beginner to some of the finest modern and classical Italian masters. Over the years he has continuously worked with professional classical, folk, and pop strings players from around the world.