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Harold Golden began his career in music as a professional guitarist and string bassist but his keen interest in the construction and sound of the violin put him on the path he has been following for 30 years.  After having apprenticed in a prominent violin shop in Philadelphia for 15 years, Mr. Golden opened his own shop and has been making violins and violas since 1990.  Mr. Golden makes copies of  Strads, Guaneris, Amatis and Baldontonis and he makes his own design based on the Golden Number of the Renaissance.  He uses specially chosen wood from British Columbia, Vermont, New York State and Europe and his varnish is from pine resin and sandarac which is carefully and painstakingly collected at the prime time of year. 

Mr. Golden’s essential goal is to create a well balanced, clear bell like sound.  His instruments are played by professional and amateur players in the Philadelphia area and abroad.  He has studied violin making with expert craftsmen Sofian Zapf, originally of Bayreuth, Germany, Carleen Hutchins, founder of the Catgut Acoustical Society, and Ed Campbell, founder of Chimneys Violin Shop.  Also, he has attended Varnishing and Acoustics master classes with Geary Baese. 

Mr. Golden is a member of the Violin Society of America, the Violin Makers Association of Arizona International and the British Violin Making Association.  Mr. Golden has won Certificates of Proficiency from the Violin Makers Association of Arizona International.

Harold Golden Wins Prestigious 2008 Wallace Award

Harold Golden violin maker from the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia has just won the prestigious Bob Wallace award for overall excellence in the violin makers association of Arizona International Violin Competition. The Vmaai is the oldest violin making organization in the country. This is the only violin making organization which holds a competition every year. The competition has just celebrated its 50^th anniversary. This competition brings makers from all areas of the united states Canada and Mexico to Arizona each year to compete for this honor> the violin with which Mr. Golden won is a copy of the Guadagnini violin played by David Kim concert master of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Receiving Award from Bill Wallace Jr.

The Bob Wallace Award

The Award Winning Violin