This instrument is part of our 7th annual Contemporary American Makers Exhibition, 2024

Dirk Henry began his violin making career in 2010 in Omaha, Nebraska. He has studied with Salt Lake graduate Cesario Amesquita, as well as distinguished violin maker Mark Womack. Until 2015, Dirk served as a workshop manager at a violin shop in Omaha, dividing his time between repairing instruments and building from scratch. Dirk worked out of his home from late 2015 to early 2019. In March 2019, Dirk joined his friend and fellow luthier, Alex Reza, at Violins of Omaha, in the Hotshops Art Center.  There, he continues making violins, violas, and cellos as well as setup and repair work.  Dirk is committed to continuing to refine his skills and improve his craftsmanship through attending workshops and seminars, including the Oberlin Violin Making Workshop and the Oberlin Acoustics Workshop.

Dirk has received both tone and making awards for his instruments. At the Southern Violin Association Violin Makers Competition 2019, Dirk received awards for first place tone for viola and second place workmanship for viola. He was awarded a silver medal for tone and a silver medal overall for his viola in the 2015 VMAAI Competition. Dirk was also awarded the gold medal for his violin in the 2014 Art of Sound Competition.

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