About Alexander
Alexander Yurovitsky was born in Kiev, capital of what is now the Ukraine. The son of the First Cellist in the Kiev Philarmonic Orchestra, he came from a musical family and began playing the violin at age 5. After graduating Gorky Conservatory he became First Violinist in the Philharmonic Cinema Orchestra and First Violinist in the Modern Music Ensemble which performed on Soviet Radio, as well as a teacher.
But he was always fascinated with the mysterious beauty and tone of 18th century Cremonise instruments.
As early as 1960 he began experimenting with violin adjustment, and later with repair and restoration. Behind the 'iron curtain' of the USSR, the art of violin making was slowly dying. Literature, tools, and materials were difficult to come by, even on the black market, or absent altogether. Schools or apprenticeships didn't exist. Alexander improvised his own tools, and taught himself all he could about this art form. This experience had its positive side: under these conditions and in the absence of any basic necessities for the craft, a person had to be extremely unorthodox and creative.
Alexander immigrated to New York City, USA with his family in July of 1979. Three days later he interviewed for a job at Havivi Violins in Carnegie Studios. Mr. Havivi hired him on the spot, and there Alexander learned classic repair and specialized in sound adjustment. Ever since crafting his first violin in 1977 he has used his fascination with drawing, chemistry, literature, and art to create violins of superb quality which are played all over the world. 35 years later he is still enthralled by the mysteries and fine craft of Luthierie.
Alexander currently has a studio in Brooklyn, New York. He is a member of The Violin Society of America.
Birth of a violin.