Violin bow frog close up

Member Events

Biennial General Meetings

These member events are a time to meet, share and socialize with fellow makers.  A business meeting is followed by lectures, presentations and concerts.

Players Meet Makers

Exhibitions of instrument and bow making where the public is invited to see and audition the instruments and bows of our membership.

Unique Special Events

Opportunities for members to learn and network, such as our trip to Taiwan where members exhibited instruments and visited the world’s largest stringed instrument and bow collection at the Chi Mei museum.

Event Archives

Handouts, documents and recordings of presentations are archived and available for members.

Closeup of end of fingerboard
Stradivarius label viewed through f hole
Guarnieri label viewed through f hole

Past Meetings

Every two years, the Federation holds its meeting where members can meet each other and reconnect while attending informative and inspiring lectures, demonstrations, and receptions.  Videos, recordings, transcripts, and documents from these meetings are available in the Member area of this website.

General Meeting 2021, Irvine, CA

The 2021 General Meeting of the AFVBM was held September 2-5 at Orange County Music and Dance (OCMD) with accommodation at the nearby SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Irvine. See below for details. But first, thank you to our generous sponsors:   Welcome Reception...

General Meeting, Irvine, CA – April 2020

This meeting has been postponed. The 2020 General Meeting of the AFVBM will be held April 1-5 at Orange County Music and Dance (OCMD) with accommodation at the nearby SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Irvine. See below for details. But first, thank you to our generous...

General Meeting, NYC – March 14-18, 2018

See below for details. But first, thank you to our generous sponsors: Welcome Reception Platinum Gold     Silver Anima Nova Arcos Brasil USA BAM France Ltd Cleveland Violins D’Addario and Company Hamberger Soundpost Kremer Pigments Metropolitan Music Company...

Biennial General Meeting 2016 – Berkeley

May 25 – 29 on Berkeley campus at the Unit 1 Residence Halls, 2650 Durant Avenue, Berkeley, CA. See below for sponsors supporting the AFVBM’s 2016 General Meeting Click here for schedule of lectures and activities Campus Accommodation The accommodation package for...

Biennial General Meeting, May 7-11, 2014

Our last meeting took place at the Sofitel Chicago Water Tower, May 7-11, 2014. This was a closed meeting. Only AFVBM member were invited to attend. Speakers included: Joseph Loferski, Department of Wood Science at Virginia Tech. Duane Rosengard on the late 18th...

Biennial General Meeting, May 9-13, 2012

The AFVBM Biennial General Meeting took place from May 9th to 13th at the Hotel Monteleone, New Orleans. The theme of the meeting was Regional Traditions in Violin and Bow Making. The instrument exhibit centered around the “Amati Family Workshop and Its Early...

Biennial General Meeting, 2010

We held our 2010 General Meeting in Montreal. Members of our organization met in Montreal to attend advanced lectures about the study, construction, and identification of bows of the Tourte, Pajeot, Pecatte, Mirecourt, Tubbs, and Dodd Schools of bow making....

Players Meet Makers, 2010

An Exhibition of Contemporary Instrument and Bow Making was presented by the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers on Sunday, May 9, 2010 in Montreal. Players Meet Makers is a feature of each of our Biennial General Meetings. The next Players Meet Makers event...