Maker of VIOLINS, VIOLAS & CELLOS

“My main pursuit in the process is the quality of sound. But, as a maker, I want it to look as good as it sounds.”

About Kile Hill:

I began my journey to Violin-making as a young child after watching a PBS documentary on Cremonese Lutherie. Immediately, I knew that was what I wanted to do, and asked my Mom if I could play the Violin. We signed up, and thankfully, the school orchestra was in need of cellists. I began my Cello studies in the 4th grade under Phyllis Long of the Memphis Symphony. I continued throughout High school; participating as a member of the Memphis Youth Symphony, which influenced my decision to study Music at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. I studied Cello performance under Dr. James Stroud {or Jimbo, as we called him} who was a dear friend and mentor.

While in college, I worked with Richard Fowkes & Company, building and installing beautiful hand-crafted pipe organs. That work and craftsmanship reinforced my early desire for making instruments, and I left in 2000 for the Violin Making School of America in Salt Lake City, Utah.

In Salt Lake, I was blessed to learn & work with amazing makers and craftsman,  dividing my time between my two loves:  building instruments and backcountry skiing. I spent several years working with Scoggins & Scoggins Violins, as well as with Ryan Soltis, assisting in his making. In 2007, I accepted the opportunity to work with Stephanie Voss at Voss Violins in Atlanta, focusing my work on new making of Violas, Violins & Cellos, as well as building high quality workshop instruments.

My wife and I left Atlanta in early 2014 to build our lives in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Northwest Oregon. I work from my home studio in McMinnville, Oregon and focus solely on new making of Violas, Violins and Cellos. It has been an incredible journey from that day to this and I am grateful to all who have walked with me down this road.

-Kile Hill