Made by American luthier Mark Womack, an awarding winning violin and viola maker whose instruments  are played by many of the best players in the country. Mark studied for two years in the Stringed Instrument Technology Program at Indiana University (Bloomington), under the direction of European Master Luthier Ole Steffen Dahl. Beginning in 1988, Mark won numerous Tone Awards from the Violin Society of America, including 4 silver medals for his violins and violas. In 2012, Mark won a playability award in the Art of Sound competition. Mark’s biggest goal and greatest accomplishment was to make smaller violas with a shorter string length that were easier to play, but still had a big, rich sound. Those smaller violas had a good, quick response. His instruments, when played alongside bigger instruments, can match their sound. Mark was inspired by the old Italian masters such as Gaspar da Salo, Guarneri del Gesu, and Guadagnini, to name a few of his favorites. He used  their patterns in the instruments that he built and would frequently antique his instruments to look like the Italian instruments of the 1600 and 1700’s. This instrument has a handsome red-brown varnish with a beautifully flamed two piece back. The lower end responds with the clarity and power of an instrument much larger and the upper end sings with clarity and color. This instrument would be perfect for the young professional looking for an instrument to show them the ropes of the music world.