Nelle O’Neill was born June 27, 1934 in Paris to a French mother and American father. Shortly before the beginning of World War II, the family sailed to New York on the USS President Harding which was later sunk by German submarines. She began studying the violin at the age of nine and in 1956 graduated from the Ithaca College School of Music as a violin major. She has played and taught violin and viola professionally for the last 35 years and presently, with her husband John, is a Founding Director of the Carson Valley Violin School in Nevada. Nelle made her first violin in 1985 and since 1990, she has studied violin making and restoration with master luthier, Edward Campbell of the Chimneys Violin School at his yearly violin making workshop in Tucson, sponsored by the Violin Makers Association of Arizona International (VMAAI), the oldest organization of its type in the United States. Along with that association, she is a member of the Catgut Acoustical Society, Violin Society of America, American String Teachers Association and the Suzuki Association of the Americas. While many makers approach their craft from a background of woodworking, Nelle works from the point of view of a performing violinist and understands the importance of good sound and ease of playing to the musician. Her instruments have won numerous awards at the VMAAI annual competitions, including a "First Place Overall" and "Second Place Tone Award", viola, 2001; "First Place Tone Award", viola, 2002, 2004; "Second Place Tone Award", violin, 2002; "Second Place Tone Award" , small viola, 2006; "Second and Third Place Tone Awards" and "Third Place Overall Award", large violas, 2006. Nelle is currently producing several fine violins and violas each year and accepts commissions. All instruments are available for trial, are fully guaranteed and, upon purchase, come with a certificate of origin and value. Two of Nelle's violas that originally sold for $5-6,000 have recently been valued at $10,000 and $15,000. She is now accepting a limited number of commissions for violins ($5,900) and violas ($6,900) until May 31, 2009. Beginning in June, 2009 prices will be $6,900 & $7,900 respectively. For information on commissioning an instrument, Go here Viola, 'Elizabeth' (15 3/8") Modeled after the famous Gasparo da Salo, c. 1580 Completed, March, 2009 $6,900 SOLD The top of this small viola is AAA, medium grain Oregon Engelmann Spruce (picea engelmanni) cut in 1994. The two-piece back, neck and ribs are deeply flamed, 1988 Oregon Bigleaf Maple (acer macrophyllum). Coloring and finishing are of red madder lake over a golden ground, layered between multiple coats of oil-turpene varnish in the manner of the ancient Cremona masters. Fittings are polished rosewood. Violin, 'Alexis' Completed, October, 2008 Created especially for Alexis Reza Dear Nelle, Thank you so much for making my violin. I love her very much! It is sounding great and has a nice big voice!!! Thanks, Alexis (Alexis, according to her father, is the "envy of her orchestra" of which she is Concert-mistress) $4,900 SOLD This violin is modeled after the “Kreisler” of 1730 by Joseph Guarneri del Gesu. the top is of AAA tightly grained, fifty year old Colorado Engelmann spruce (picea engelmanni). The back, ribs and neck, all cut from the same tree, are of AAA ten year old Bosnian Maple (acer pseudoplatanus). Coloring and finish are a red madder lake over a golden ground, layered between multiple coats of oil terpene varnish; using all natural resins and colors, in the manner of the Cremona masters. Fittings are of fine Pernumbuco, grown and crafted by master makers in Brazil. For more violins, Go here For violas, scroll down From Tree to Concert Hall Go here to watch Nelle make a violin Nelle's Violas . . . this just in (May, 2009)! Nelle's viola, "Liane" has found a new home! A recent note from Natasia Boyko of Denver, Colorado reads as follows: "In January/February, I was in the market for a viola. I went to my luthier to see what he could offer me as far as a 'small' but dynamic instrument. The first instrument he handed me was Liane. I put her on my shoulder, tightened my bow and began to play; as soon as the hair gripped the strings, a spiritual connection was made and Liane began speaking to my soul! She has a voice that resonates with the human spirit. My luthier was right: for a viola so small, she really projects - and the thin neck is perfect for smaller hands. After 1-2 weeks of test driving her in different venues, we were inseparable. Reading the reviews cited from the violists at the International Viola Congress confirmed to me how wonderful this instrument is. Any violist looking for a smaller viola with clear tone and a powerful voice should be fighting to have Liane." ("Liane" was named for Nelle's granddaughter, Liane O'Neill and was awarded first place for tone at the 2002 VMAAI competition in Tucson, Arizona) Viola, 'Muller' (15 15/16"/505mm) Completed, May, 2008 Awarded Second Place for Tone VMAAI 50th Anniversary Competition Tucson, Arizona, October 15, 2008 Commissioned by Dr. Muller Fabbri, internationally recognized cancer researcher, currently at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center in Columbus, Ohio $5,900 SOLD The top is of medium grain, 1985, Oregon Engelmann Spruce (picea engelmanni). The two piece back, neck and ribs are of deeply flamed, 1995, Oregon Bigleaf Mple (acer macrophyllum). Coloring and finish are of red madder lake over a golden ground, layered between multiple coats of oil-terpene varnish, in the manner of the ancient Cremona masters. Fittings are of polished rosewood. Viola, 'Farley' (16 1/4") Completed, August, 2006 Made especially for Robert Cross Awarded 2nd place for tone at the 2006 competition of The Violin Makers Association of Arizona International Hi Nelle, . . . I still get a wonderful feeling each time I play . . . or even look at 'Farley'! $5,000 SOLD This viola is modeled after the 1676 “Conte Vitali” Viola of Andrea Guarneri. Undesirable effects of aging, including arching deformities, have not been included in the design. The top is of medium grain, 1982 Oregon Engelmann Spruce (picea engelmanni). The one-piece, 1997 back, neck and ribs are of medium flamed Oregon Bigleaf Maple (acer macrophyllum). Coloring and finish are of red madder lake over a golden ground, layered between multiple coats of oil-terpene varnish in the manner of the ancient Cremona masters. Fittings are French style pegs and Hill design tailpiece, both of polished rosewood. Viola, 'Andrew' (16 1/4") Completed, April, 2006 Commissioned by Andrew McIntosh Awarded 3rd place for tone at the 2006 competition of The Violin Makers Association of Arizona International Hello Nelle, I just wanted to say that I am absolutely loving my viola . . . it sounds fantastic! $5,000 SOLD This viola is modeled after the 1676 ‘Conte Vitali’ Viola of Andrea Guarneri. Undesirable effects of aging, including arching deformities have not been included in the design. The top is of aged medium grain split European spruce. the back, neck and sides are of medium to fine flamed German maple. Coloring and finish is of red madder lake over a golden yellow ground, layered between multiple coats of oil terpene varnish in the manner of the ancient Cremona masters. Fittings are of polished rosewood. Viola, 'Michele' (15 7/8") Completed, October, 2006 Awarded Second Place for Tone at the 2006 Competition of The Violin Makers Association of Arizona International $5,000 SOLD The top of this easy to play viola is of medium grain, aged AAA spruce from the famous Val di Fiemme Forest in Northern Italy, said to be the source of wood for Stradivari's instruments. the back, ribs and scroll are of beautiful deeply flamed native American Big Leaf Maple cut in 1988. Coloring is a red madder lake, layered between coats of oil terpene varnish, using all natural materials in the manner of the Cremona masters. The French-style pegs, Hill tailpiece and fittings are of select rosewood. Players comment on the overall evenness of this instrument and the unusual richness of the lower strings. Viola, 'Belle' (15 7/8") Completed, October, 2004 Awarded First Place for Tone at the 2004 Competition of The Violin Makers Association of Arizona International Hi Nelle, Just wanted to drop you a line to let you know I'm still loving to play 'Belle'. . . I keep getting compliments on how beautiful she sounds! Gisela $5,000 SOLD The two piece top is of aged Englemann spruce cut in the mountains of Idaho at 7,000 feet. The two piece back is cut on the quarter and, with the neck and ribs, is of well flamed and aged European maple. Coloring is a red madder lake, layered between multiple coats of oil terpene varnish over a golden ground, using all natural materials in the manner of the Cremona masters. The rich 'C' string, over-all evenness and carrying power of this easy-to-play instrument are exceptional for a small viola.