First String Violin Shop

Specialties

At First String Violin Shop, we pride ourselves on the quality of our workmanship and are dedicated to bringing new life to your violin, cello, or viola. With 50 years of experience in performance and construction, Valery Parfenov has garnered national and international acclaim.

History

Established in 1993.

Valery’s distinguished musical career began in 1963 when he was a violist in the Russian Voronezh Symphony Orchestra. That same year, he began working in bow and instrument repair and construction. Valery created his first handmade viola in 1971 after completing an internship in the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.

Receiving distinctions for the acoustic quality and skilled craftsmanship of his violins, Valery earned an International Diploma in the 1983 International Competition in Sophia, Bulgaria for best sound in an original instrument. Furthermore, his skill and reputation earned him a position as a violinmaker and restorer with the prestigious Moscow Philharmonic in 1985, eventually leading to a position with the Moscow Conservatory in 1989 as a restorer and lead violinmaker.

That same year, a rare opportunity arose with the Russian State Collection of Unique String Instruments: the world’s largest collection of rare stringed instruments.

Meet the Business Owner

Larry V.

Business Owner

Valery’s distinguished musical career began in 1963 when he was a violist in the Russian Voronezh Symphony Orchestra. That same year, he began working in bow and instrument repair and construction. Valery created his first handmade viola in 1971 after completing an internship in the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.