He received traditional French training in the violinmaking studios above Carnegie Hall, caring for and listening to the instruments of Stradivari, Guarneri, Amati, Gofriller, Guadagnini and other classical Italian luthiers.

As a part of a select group of makers, museum specialists and acousticians he is at the forefront of using 21st-century science to practice and advance 17th-century methods of violinmaking.

He earned a master's degree in philosophy from The New School for Social Research in New York City, studying with Jacques Derrida for three years.

He is the archivist for the Oberlin College group of violinmakers and for W. E. Hill & Sons[4] and a member of the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers.

[6] He also repaired instruments for Roberta Guaspari of the Harlem School for Strings, played by Meryl Streep in the film Music of the Heart.