International Women in Lutherie Announces 2022 Fellows

Women in Lutherie, an organization founded to provide a women-led, bench-centered platform, is currently hosting its second International Women In Lutherie Fellowship. The three-month summer mentorship program is designed to see emerging talents from around the world build skills, while also creating connections and positive relationships among women in lutherie.

This year, 22 women — comprising 11 Fellows and 11 Mentors — will take part in virtual group meetings for team-building activities and peer support. Depending on pandemic-related travel regulations, fellows will also journey to complete an internship with their mentor for hands-on workshop experience.

Additionally, though most group meetings will be held in English, some fellows are matched with multi-lingual mentors for deeper personal interaction wherever possible.

Founded in 2021, the overarching goal of the fellowship is to provide more equitable professional development opportunities.

The 11 fellows are:

• Mara José Pelez Aguirre (Mexico)

• Nina Poots (Netherlands / Scotland)

• Johnston Surez Sofa (UK / Spain)

• Anna Jaklin (Austria)

• Natasha Sealey-Worrell (Trinidad & Tobago)

• Hilary Brady Morris (USA)

• Amber Van Hessche (Belgium)

• Federica Pinelli (Italy)

• Getseman Years Hernández (Mexico)

• Sara Betania Cohen Sánchez (Spain / USA)

• Camille Perbost (France)

The 11 mentors are (paired in order of the fellows):

• Lyn Hardy (USA)

• Melenahe Martin (Hawaii / USA)

• Ana Espinosa Rodriguez (Spain)

• Paris Andrew (MB / Italy)

• Elizabeth Vander Veer Shaak (USA)

• Mary Jane Kwan (USA)

• Renate Fink (Germany)

• Kathleen Thomas (Canada / Italy)

• Ruth Obermayer (Germany / Spain)

• Robyn Sullivan (USA)

• Tanja Hidde (Germany)

 

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Poots, another fellow, is a luthier, double bassist, and art educator from the Netherlands, and works in her Glasgow workshop. “It is wonderful when women come together and pass knowledge along to the next generation, it inspires me to also pass along everything I’m learning in this wonderful craft,” she said.