William Robert Scott 2017 Violin

The 2017 violin by William Robert Scott is patterned after the 1742 “Lord Wilton” violin by Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù. The original instrument is among the best-known violins by del Gesù and was famously played by Yehudi Menuhin. Instruments modeled after this example are valued for their depth of tone and strong projection, characteristics often associated with del Gesù’s work.

William Robert Scott is a violin maker based in the Twin Cities. He founded Scott Violins in 1985 and has more than four decades of experience building and restoring fine stringed instruments. His work has received significant recognition at competitions organized by the Violin Society of America, where he has earned multiple Gold and Silver Medals for tone and workmanship along with numerous Certificates of Merit. In 2006 he achieved Hors Concours status, a distinction awarded to makers who have won multiple gold medals at VSA competitions.

Scott trained in the mid-1980s at the Los Angeles workshop of Hans Weisshaar, where he gained valuable experience studying and restoring important historical instruments. Today his instruments are played by professional musicians across the United States and are appreciated for their craftsmanship, tonal depth, and reliability in both orchestral and chamber settings.