Growing Up In Simsbury, Connecticut:

I started my musical career at age 5  with organ lessons at Hartt College of music in Hartford.  My father had a Hammond organ in our living room that he purchased when I was two years old.  In second grade I took cello lessons with our school program. In fourth grade I was back at Hartt with cello lessons. By seventh grade I had auditioned and won a seat in the Greater Hartford Youth Symphony at Hartt, now part of the University of Hartford.  During the following years till high school graduation I took theory, composition, conducting and many other courses.  In fact I actually spent half again as much time at Hartt as I did at high school.  For three years, while still in high school,  I ran the college's Baroque Quartet and Quintet.  I spent much time with the Farmington Valley Symphony as lead cellist and acting concertmaster.  During the Holidays I played as a "ringer" in performances for 8 different regional orchestras in Conn. and Mass.

 In High School I also took up the classical guitar. My relationship with Ovation Instruments and Kaman Music Started before Ovation existed. I grew up with Bill Kaman and his sister.  She and I were in 4H together.  My father was the Research Contracts Administrator at Kaman Aerospace. He was instrumental  (no pun intended) in launching Ovation initially as a research division of Kaman Aerospace. Dad and I both still have unique one of a kind Ovation guitars.  On an personal note, Bill Kaman's first wife Laurie Quinn was one of my best friends.

 Colorado State and the U.S. Navy

Next I spent a year at Colorado State University in Fort Collins under advanced placement with 40 some odd credits behind me from U of H.  I was majoring in physics with a music minor. After getting caught by the draft while transferring back to U of H,  came four years of Navy service.  My specialty rating was  anti-submarine-warfare analog computing systems.

 The Engineering Career

After the service I was off and running at Hamilton Standard as a Facilities Automation Engineer.  That led to a career that went from 1975 to 1998 in computers, automation systems, and robotics.  I was the 15th person world wide to pass the SME/MECI exam to become a Certified Manufacturing Engineer with the additional requirements for area 41 (Automation Systems and Controls).  I went on to become a three time chair of the International Mobile Autonomous Robots and Artificial Intelligence Conferences for the SPIE. The latter left me with cutting edge technology researchers as friends all over the globe.

 Instrument Making

I built my first violin in 1966 under Leon Mandel's supervision.  In 1967 he led me through the building of my first classical guitar.  I have been building and repairing string instruments since then.  In 1981 I opened our current shop here in Bradford, NH.  Happily, and thanks to the Internet the shop is now finally a full time business.

In my work on repairs, reconstructions, and new instruments I combine  my traditional training, 5 generations of family methods back through William Peters, and my scientific background and knowledge.  This allows me to create instruments with superb playability, with exceptional tone, volume, and presence. Using my unique combination of training and talent I can make these instruments available to my customers far below the current market value.