Lawrence Wilke,Violin Maker

Lawrence Wilke has been playing cello since he was 8 years old. He began his apprenticeship in 1978 at the age of 16 with his uncle, master violin maker David Caron. After completing his training he studied bow making and repair with Philip Krause. From 1981-84 he studied cello with Dr. William Klenz of SUNY Binghamton. In 1986 he went to work for Andrew Dipper in Taynton England where he studied design and restoration. In 1988 he opened his own studio making violins, violas and specializing in cello making.

Cello #116

Encore Orchestral Strings is honored to be representing award-winning luthier Lawrence Wilke's latest creation. Cello #116 is based on Wilke's interpretation of the great cellos of Venetian maker Domenico Montagnana (1686-1750). Many of today's notable cellists, such as Truls Mork and Yo-Yo Ma, play on original instruments made by Montagnana.

"I had the chance to hear #116 in concert about a week after we received it. I heard it played in the context of a professional string quartet in a beautiful local concert hall. To be perfectly fair, the cellist could have made a humble student cello sound beautiful! However, if you have ears accustomed to hearing great musicians playing great instruments, you would have heard something very special that night. Many years ago I had the chance to play Yo-Yo Ma's Montagnana cello for fifteen blessed minutes and then hear him play it from only about ten feet away. I will never forget that experience. The sound of Yo-Yo's cello was "right" in a way that's difficult to put into words. The sounds I heard from cello #116 can only be described in the same way…it was "right". "
- John Rihani

Here are the details for those of you that want them – the top is of quarter-cut spruce, the back is of medium-width, highly flamed maple, the ribs and scroll are of similar maple, and all of it is covered in a beautiful orange-brown oil varnish with light antiquing. Those keeping score will note that Larry's cello won a coveted Gold Medal at the 2006 VSA competition and famous cellists around the world are playing his instruments.

Please call for an appointment to play this wonderful instrument.