{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians --> | name = Samuel Zygmuntowicz | image = | caption = | background = non_vocal_instrumentalist | birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1956|11|24}} | birth_place = [[Philadelphia]] | instrument = [[Violin]] | occupation = Violinmaker }}
'''Samuel Zygmuntowicz''' (born 1956) is a contemporary [[luthier]] and is widely regarded as one of the finest violin makers of his generation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=4 Prominent American Violin Makers You Should Know {{!}} MyLuthier Blog |url=https://www.myluthier.co/post/4-prominent-american-violin-makers-you-should-know |access-date=2022-08-18 |website=www.myluthier.co |language=en}}</ref> He began his instrument making training at age 13, and studied making and restoration under [[Peter Prier]], [[Carl Fredrick Becker|Carl Becker]]<ref> {{cite web |url= https://www.thestrad.com/luthier-carl-f-becker-dies/3646.article |title=Chicago-based violin maker and restorer had a 75-year career |date=2013-01-31 |publisher=[[The Strad]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810142954/https://www.thestrad.com/luthier-carl-f-becker-dies/3646.article |archive-date =2017-08-10 |access-date=2017-09-14}}</ref> and [[René A. Morel|René Morel]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Zygmuntowicz|first=Samuel|date=February 2012|title=Rene Morel 1932-2011|journal=The Strad}}</ref> Since 1985 he has been based in [[Brooklyn, New York]]. His early work demonstrates expert skill as a copyist of classic instruments. Later work includes personal models informed by intensive advanced research. Findings from this research have been published in numerous print and digital media. Zygmuntowicz is an active fiddler, playing with several folk music groups. His playing can be heard on the recordings ''Grand Picnic'', and ''Jump When the Trumpets Blow''.
Zygmuntowicz was born in [[Philadelphia]] to Jewish Holocaust survivors from Poland. He is a graduate of the Violin Making School of America in [[Salt Lake City]] (1976–80) during which time he also worked for Carl Becker.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Zygmuntowicz|first=Samuel|date=April 2017|title=How to Talk To Your Violin Maker|journal=Strings Magazine}}</ref> In 1980, a Becker-style Stradivari violin copy made by Zygmuntowicz won two gold medals - for violin workmanship and tone - at the Violin Society of America Competition.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vsaweb.org/Previous-Conventions|title=Previous Conventions & Competitions|website=Violin Society of America|access-date=19 October 2018|archive-date=8 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708195413/https://www.vsaweb.org/Previous-Conventions|url-status=dead}}</ref> The same year, Zygmuntowicz began five years of additional training in the restoration workshop of [[Jacques Français]] Rare Violins, Inc. and [[René A. Morel]].<ref name=":1" /> [[Isaac Stern]] owned two Zygmuntowicz violins.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Cutts|first=Chloe|date=January 2017|title=Sound Sculptor|url=https://www.thestrad.com/the-value-of-tradition-lies-in-repurposing-the-meaningful-parts-says-luthier-sam-zygmuntowicz/5561.article|journal=The Strad}}</ref> After Stern died in 2001, both violins were sold at a [[Tarisio Auctions|Tarisio]] auction in 2003, each violin surpassing the previous record for the highest price paid for a string instrument by a living maker at auction, until the record was broken in October 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stringsmagazine.com/article/136/136,3525,ShopVisit-1.asp|title=A Confluence of Confluences|last=Schrader|first=Erin|date=February 2006|publisher=String Letter Publishing|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061112231214/http://www.stringsmagazine.com/article/136/136,3525,ShopVisit-1.asp|archive-date=12 November 2006|url-status=dead|access-date=17 December 2007|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
His clients include [[Leila Josefowicz]], [[Yo-Yo Ma]], David Finckel, Cho-Liang Lin, [[Maxim Vengerov]], [[Joshua Bell]], [[Dylana Jenson]], Matthew Lipman and the Emerson String Quartet.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allthingsstrings.com/News/Interviews-Profiles/Samuel-Zygmuntowicz-Considers-the-Timing-of-Gluey|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111130173501/http://allthingsstrings.com/News/Interviews-Profiles/Samuel-Zygmuntowicz-Considers-the-Timing-of-Gluey|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-11-30|title=Samuel Zygmuntowicz Considers the Timing of Gluey|access-date=14 November 2014|last=Schrader|first=Erin|date=February 2006|publisher=String Letter Publishing}}</ref> In their 2008 recording of Bach fugues, the [[Emerson String Quartet]] all played Zygmuntowicz instruments. ''The Violinmaker'', a book written by John Marchese, chronicles the making of a violin for Emerson String Quartet violinist Eugene Drucker.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Violin Maker|last=Marchese|first=John|publisher=Harper Collins|year=2007|isbn=978-0-06-001267-0|location=New York|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/violinmakerfindi00marc}}</ref>
==Strad3D== Since 2006, Zygmuntowicz has been the creative director of the [http://strad3d.org/ Strad3D] project, which ''The Strad Library'' called "One of the most groundbreaking and comprehensive studies of the violin form ever conceived." It involved the first 3D laser vibration scanning of Stradivari and Guarneri violins, (the 'Titian' and 'Willemotte' Stradivaris, and the 'Plowden' Guarneri 'del Gesu') and included acoustic testing and CT scanning. Zygmuntowicz turned the endeavor into a broad collaborative project, bringing together makers, musicians, filmmakers, acoustical engineers, and other researchers - among them physicist and co-developer George Bissinger, who had pioneered the use of vibration scanning using lasers.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Zygmuntowicz|first=Samuel|date=January 2009|title=A Scanner in the Works|journal=The Strad}}</ref>
According to Zygmuntowicz, "The instruments were gently activated by tapping the bridge, and then three scanning lasers detected the resulting patterns of vibration, which were revealed on screen as a rippling landscape of colour and motion, rather like a motion-capture animated film." The result was the first three-dimensional motion capture of violins in use. The practical value of these scientific investigations continues to emerge. Initial findings were published in an article appearing in the January 2009 issue of ''The Strad''.<ref name=":0" />
== Teaching, public speaking, and outreach == Zygmuntowicz is an active speaker at museums, conferences, chamber music festivals, and intensive workshops, on topics ranging from historical and contemporary violin-making techniques to modern violin acoustics and cutting-edge research.
Recent engagements include, The National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) in 2016, Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival of 2015-16, [https://livestream.com/accounts/1112937/events/7593676/videos/160617265 Music@Menlo Festival of 2017], The 2018 La Jolla SummerFest, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imTEp6JwYkw Banff String Quartet Competition of 2013], [https://vimeo.com/96834189 The 2012 EG Conference], and yearly appearances at the Oberlin Acoustics Workshop, and at the Juilliard School in NY.
These presentations have been adapted to the various interests of the general public, active string players, scientific researchers, and experienced luthiers.
Videos of past presentations can be found on [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsBY3bQi9p_UsG1bwMomdb9hZU2X_BTuj Zygmuntowicz’ Studio YouTube Channel], and videos from the Strad3D project on the [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjU0GbsosbFQiBwbefxBqFg?view_as=subscriber Strad3D YouTube Channel].
Zygmuntowicz has published several analyses of great classic instruments, including the 'Duport'<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Zygmuntowicz|first=Samuel|date=October 1997|title=From Strad to Slava|journal=The Strad}}</ref> cello, 'Titian',<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Zygmuntowicz|first=Samuel|date=February 2009|title=Antonio Stradivari|journal=The Strad}}</ref> and 'Huberman'<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Zygmuntowicz|first=Samuel|date=October 2013|title=Vibrant Details|journal=The Strad}}</ref> violins of Stradivari, the 'Plowden' Guarneri 'del Gesu'<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Zygmuntowicz|first=Samuel|date=July 2011|title=Shining Star|journal=The Strad}}</ref> violin, and a 1796 Mantegazza viola.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Zygmuntowicz|first=Samuel|date=December 2003|title=Team Player|journal=The Strad}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://strad3d.org/cms/index.php/about-sam-zygmuntowicz About Sam Zygmuntowicz] at Strad3d.org * [https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96708334&ft=1&f=1105 Samuel Zygmuntowicz interview] at [[National Public Radio]] * [https://www.vimeo.com/37749081 Samuel Zygmuntowicz Documentary] at Vimeo.com a short documentary by Dustin Cohen * [http://vimeo.com/96834189 Samuel Zygmuntowicz at EG Conference 2012] * [http://www.corilon.com/shop/en/info/samuel-zygmuntowicz-violinmaker.html Samuel Zygmuntowicz: How a violin maker in New York became the venue for international stars to meet. A portrait]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Zygmuntowicz, Samuel}} [[Category:American luthiers]] [[Category:Artists from Brooklyn]] [[Category:Musicians from Brooklyn]] [[Category:1956 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Artists from Philadelphia]]