CURRICULUM VITAE

I studied violin making and repair at the Newark School of Violin Making (NSVM) in England. I graduated with distinction in July 2004. I was awarded the Benslow Musical Trust prize for the best instrument made over the year 2003-04. I have also studied restoration and repair at the British Violin Making Association (BVMA) course in 2006.

After graduation I have worked as a violin maker and repairer being a member of the Acamedia Cooperative.
I have also briefly taught the violin making evening course at the Finnish Adult Education Centre of the City of Helsinki.

I have taken part in instrument making competitions:

• BVMA Genius of the Violin competition London 2004,
• Finnish Violin Making Association competition Espoo 2004,
• Concours Etienne Vatelot Paris 2004,
• Mittenwald 5th International violin making competition 2005,
• Cremona XI Triennale Competition 2006,
• Finnish Violin Making Association competition Helsinki 2007,
• Cremona XII Triennale Competition 2009.

Newark School of Violin Making - NSVM

Along with the numerous prizes in the national finnish competitions I have been awarded an Honourable Mention for my viola at the Cremona Triennale in 2006.

At the Cremona Triennale in 2009 I was awarded the first prize in the violin category and I was also awarded two gold medals for the acoustically best instrument entered to the competition.

Before starting to study violin making I studied the double bass at the Helsinki Conservatory and the Sibelius Academy. I also worked as a double bass player at the Finnish National Opera Orchestra.

I was born in Varkaus in Eastern Finland.

Email: info@markopennanen.fi - Tel 00 358 50 4900515