15 7/8" Louis Gord viola, Montréal 2021

Louis Gord grew up in Angers, France in a family filled with artists and musicians. He studied viola at Angers Conservatory for twelve years and has played in various orchestras and chamber music ensembles. His love for music and crafts pushed him to the service of performers and their instruments. In 2012, he graduated from the International Violin Making School of Mirecourt in France.

During his studies, he worked on the restoration and maintenance of antique and rare instruments with Jérome Doucet in Angers as well as the firm of Vatelot-Rampal in Paris. However, he developed an interest in the making of new instruments. After completing the program in Mirecourt, Louis worked with violin makers Marcus Klimke, Antoine Cauche, Patrick Robin, and Viateur Roy.

In January 2014, he began working with Isabelle Wilbaux in Montréal. For their mutual work on a viola, Isabelle and Louis won Certificates of Merit for Tone and Workmanship at the 2014 Violin Society of America competition in Indianapolis. He was also awarded a Silver Medal for Artisanship for a viola submitted to the 2022 VSA Competition, as well as a Certificate of Merit for Workmanship for viola in 2018.

Louis has been working independently at his workshop in Montréal since 2019. He serves on the board of the Canadian Violin and Bow Maker's Association and is a founding member of the Collectif Lutherie Montréal, a shared workshop as well as a documentation and training center for the contemporary violin-making community.