I am a Canadian luthier trained through the Violin Making School of America and my shop, “Kotlarz Violins”, is currently based in beautiful British Columbia. Art in many forms has always been a part of my life despite my largely science-based academic education. Happily, with a lot of hard work, lucky circumstances and stubbornness I made the jump from being a registered nurse to becoming a violin maker and can combine both my love of art and science.  My ongoing focus is serving my community’s basic maintenance and repair needs and creating new violins and violas which are sold all over Canada and the United States.  My passion and joy lies in being the catalyst for musicians furthering their skills, whether it is through my repair work or crafting new instruments for discerning players.  Tonal characteristics and aesthetic beauty are the foundations for each new build and I am continually drawing in new techniques and resources with an eye to the future, whether it is sustainably harvesting local resins for my own varnishes, creating a 500+ tree farm, or meeting with new and old colleagues and friends to discuss fresh ideas.  I look forward to sharing my work with you all…..

-Pauline Dawson (née Kotlarz) 

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