Reuning & Son Violins Announces NYC Head Restorer 

Luthier Eliane Leblanc has rejoined the workshop at its new location in New York City

Founded in the 1970s and considered one of the world’s most respected dealers of fine string instruments and bows, Reuning & Son Violins has welcomed Eliane Leblanc on her return to the company as Head Restorer at its new New York City workshop.

Leblanc first joined Reuning & Son Violins as a restorer in 2013, completing a wide range of restoration projects. A fourth-generation woodworker, she began violin lessons at age six and became familiar with wood and its trade tools from a young age due to her father’s carpentry workshop.

"It is very exciting to be part of the Reuning team again," Eliane told The Violin Channel. "My two decades of serving some of the most demanding players and my dedication to conservative restoration practices give me a unique outlook on how to serve both the musicians' and the instruments' best interests."

"The commitment to honoring the integrity of the instruments is something that means a lot to me, and working with a team where that happens across the board is very valuable."

Following two years of college studies on violin performance and musicology, Leblanc decided to pursue violin making and enrolled in Italy’s Cremona International Violin Making School, where she earned an Operatore di liuteria diploma. 

She also received an Arts & Crafts Master Diploma (DMA), with honors, at the Mirecourt School of Violin Making in France, after which she joined luthier Pierre Caradot in his Paris atelier. 

Working with both trade and field specialists, Leblanc explores new techniques and materials, plus more conservative approaches to restoration work. She has also served as a guest instructor at the Oberlin restoration workshop.