Violins' atelier Vavra

Our history

	Jan Baptista Vavra 1870–1937

cousin Karel Vavra 1903–1973	son Alfons F. Vavra 1901–1957	cousin Josef Vavra 1912–1998

son Karel Vavra 1935	daughter Ludmila Vavrova Bouchalova 1931	son Alfons F. Vavra 1936

son Tomas Vavra 1966

Jan Baptista Vavra (1870–1937)

He received his vocational training under violinist Josef Cermak in Kutna Hora. He worked in Smichov in Prague. In the Paris world exhibition he was awarded the gold medal for quartet. He taught his son, Alfons F. Vavra (1901).

Alfons Frantisek Vavra (1901–1957)

Son and pupil of J. B. Vavra (1870). In 1920 he began to work independently in Banska Bystrica under the name of his father's business. His two cousins Josef Vavra (1912) and Karel Vavra (1903) also worked with him there, which is where he studied. From the year 1925 he worked in Prague. He taught his daughter, Ludmila Vavrova–Bouchalova (1931) and his son, A. F. Vavra (1936).

Karel Vavra (1903–1973)

The violinist studied together with his cousin A. F. Vavra in Banska Bystrica. He worked for A. F. Vavra (1901) until the year 1932, when he got his own studio in Korunni Street in the Vinohrady district of Prague. In 1950 he moved to Belehradska Street and began to teach his son Karel Vavra (1935) and Karel Samal (1933–1992). He was a founding member of Kruh umelcu houslaru (Association of Violinists and Craftsmen) and served on the board. He received commendations for his work and tone in Haag in1949, in Prague in 1954, and in Poznan in 1962. He was a member of the international panel of violinists in Liege (Belgium) and in Poznan. He created instruments for Jan Kubelik, Vasa Prihoda and Josef Suk.

Josef Vavra (1912–1998)

He studied under his uncle, J. B. Vavra (1870). He worked in Prague together with his cousin A. F. Vavra (1901) until the year 1945. In that year he moved to Luby near Cheb, where he worked independently as a master instrument-maker. Until 1969 he worked in the Cremona workshop, as professor of vocational training. He was a founding member of Kruh umelcu houslaru. In 1954 in Prague he was awarded first prize for the viola; in Poznan in 1957 he received the first prize for the violin, and in Liege in 1960 he won the gold medal.

Ludmila Vavrova–Bouchalova (1931)

She studied under her father, A. F. Vavra (1901), and worked with him until her death in 1957. She devoted her life to the construction of first-class musical instruments, as well as to restoration work. She was a member of the Kruh umelcu houslaru throughout the whole of her working life.

Alfons Frantisek Vavra (1936)

He studied under his father, A. F. Vavra (1901). He worked for him, together with his sister, until his death. He was a master craftsman of musical instruments and also devoted his time to restoration work. He emigrated to the USA in 1968, where he is still a practising violinist today.

Karel Vavra (1935)

In 1950 he began his apprenticeship under his father, Karel Vavra (1903) in Belehradska Street in Prague, and continued to work for him until Karel's death in 1973. In 1967 he moved to Lublanska Street. He is a master craftsman of musical instruments, also works as a restorer, works together with the Czech Museum of Music, and is an authority on the state collection of musical instruments. He has taught his son, Tomas Vavra (1966), Jan Sokol (1964), and Vladimir Vana (1953–2001). In 1967 in Poznan he was awarded two diplomas, he won the first prize at an international violinists' competition, and has received the gold medal for tone from Italian violinists. He has been a member of the Kruh umelcu houslaru since it was established, and has been chairman since 1989.

Tomas Vavra (1966)

In 1980 he began his education under his father, Karel Vavra (1935) and in 1983 he received his vocational certificate. Since this time he has been working with his father in Lublanska Street. He builds top-class instruments from the wood of his grandfather, Karel Vavra (1903), which he purchased in the 1930s. He also carries out restoration work on stringed instruments and strings. In 1991 he took a year's sabbatical in Sweden with Vladimir Vana. He is a member of the Kruh umelcu houslaru.In 1980 he began his education under his father, Karel Vavra (1935) and in 1983 he received his vocational certificate. Since this time he has been working with his father in Lublanska Street. He builds top-class instruments from the wood of his grandfather, Karel Vavra (1903), which he purchased in the 1930s. He also carries out restoration work on stringed instruments and strings. In 1991 he took a year's sabbatical in Sweden with Vladimir Vana. He is a member of the Kruh umelcu houslaru.