Today we’d like to introduce you to Owen Lee. They and their team shared their story with us below:
The journey of violin started from the year of 2002 for a short-term part-time job for NAMM show in Anaheim. In 2002, Los Angeles Violin Shop Founder Owen Lee began his violin adventure by importing violins, violas, cellos, and basses from around the world. In 2003, he officially established his business, which would become LAVS, as the Universal Musical Instrument Wholesale Company. Through diligent effort and excellent customer service, Owen built strong relationships with many well-known violin shop owners across the country and learned that there was a need for restoration services for instruments made by third parties. Thus, in 2008, LAVS began learning about violin restoration and making and offered these much-needed services to the LA musical community.
In 2011, we put our acquired knowledge to work by setting up a violin workshop in Downtown Los Angeles and launching our workshop brand, “Owens & Parkley” instruments. In 2014, we moved to our current location at 3350 West Olympic Boulevard and officially changed our name to Los Angeles Violin Shop to help us continue to expand and grow.
We have always looked for new ways to bring the best quality work and resources to Los Angeles, which is why, in 2019, we launched our first annual Authenticate LA event and partnered with experts from the Vatelot-Rampal and Jean-François Raffin ateliers in France — Jean-Jacques Rampal, Jonathan Marolle, Yannick Le Canu and Sylvain Bigot – to provide world-renown certification and authentication services to our clientele here in LA. We bring this event (like an antique road shop type) to find out what they have played may be worth a lot nowadays.
LAVS is recognized by a lot of professional players for meticulous repairs and restoration, also Authenticity.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It was not easy and rough of course, but I love my job because I love to meet new people around the world. I describe myself as an antique dealer, art dealer, and event organizer. It was not easy to be in my current position; however, I am so happy and grateful that keep working with good people. Stocking up various ranges of instruments and bows is tough. I would love to buy whatever I like to sell; however, the fund is always limited to purchases. Therefore I need help from someone who has good instruments or organization. We are very confident that what we sell we don’t sell as-is. There are tons of work involved to last our violins the next 100 years again.
We’ve been impressed with LA Violin Shop, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
There are some different aspects of my shop.
1. Education String service
– Rental
– Repairs (Violin/Viola/Cello/Guitars/more)
– Stringed instruments, bows, and their accessories sales
– School instrument maintenance and sales
I am proud of my workshop teams since they are awarded luthiers and even beginner instruments, we do a lot of work before we show them to our customers. Fine quality setup with an affordable range of instruments.
2. Fine Violins and Bows
– We support fine art of violin making. We do carry contemporary, modern, old and rare instruments and bows.
– Consignment/ Appraisal /Photo Studio
– Supporting musician groups, orchestras, conservatory.
– Fine violin and bow investment
3. Events
– Authenticate LA (Annual antique roadshow type event)
There are many people who bought a violin from the yard sale, in the attic, or inherited from their grandmother, most of time when they bring a violin, German copy of Stradivarius, but sometimes, we find rare and fine violins. We always look for hidden treasures. It is very rare but it happens.
– Archet LA – Contemporary Bow Exhibition
4. LAVS Foundation
The Los Angeles Violin Shop Foundation (LAVSF), a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization, was founded in 2020 to expand awareness of and appreciation for classical music. The LAVS Foundation’s Instrument Loan Program allows young artists to benefit from the use of high-quality instruments that otherwise would not be available to them. LAVSF supports contemporary makers to produce as well.
5. LAVS Workshop
– Antique violins and bows restoration
– Sound adjustment
– Bow rehair and repairs
– New instrument making
– Stringed instrument repairs (violin/viola/cello/guitars)
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I cannot do the business by myself. Amos Hargrave violin maker who resides in Lawrence, KS who taught me basic repairs and restoration works. Jean-Jacques Rampal, who is a world-renowned expert and appraiser, led me to the fine instrument world. Jake Jiwon Han, our shop head violin maker. His passion in making, restoration, and hard work was awarded Silver Medal from the last Violin Society America violin-making competition. Also, all of our teams, they are the best.
Support from local teachers, music schools, LA Phil, LA Operas, Pacific Symphony, San Diego Symphony, USC, Colburn School and many more schools in SoCal, and also studio musicians in LA.
I appreciate public school orchestra teachers and also individual musicians. I love them all and appreciate their work.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.laviolinshop.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laviolinshop/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LAViolinShop
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/owen-lee-88a17985/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@losangelesviolinshop8382
