Michal Rácz

About

I was born in Luby as the eldest son of Petr Rácz, and I have been following in his footsteps since early childhood. I built my first instrument at the age of eleven, and I still keep it as a memento.

After finishing primary school I did not hesitate and applied straight away to the violin making school in Cheb. I was the best student of my year there, and in 2011 the Schola Ludus foundation recognised me for outstanding study results.

In 2013 I received a very interesting offer – a placement abroad in Anchorage, Alaska. I gained a great deal of new knowledge and experience in making and restoring string instruments there, and I even sold a few of my instruments. From America word of their quality spread around the world, and several of them have found homes in Asia and all over Central Europe.

I also took part in the International Violin Making Competition in Prague. I had no great expectations, so the recognition of leading violin makers for work well done was more than pleasing. Another great success came at the violin tone competition (Houslové přehrávky), where I won a fine 2nd place in the first year and 3rd place a year later.

I make my master instruments entirely by hand, following the methods of the old masters and under the guidance of my father, who is still a great example to me. I most often use models by A. Stradivari, Guarneri del Gesù or Domenico Montagnana. I carve the top, the back and the neck completely by hand, without any modern technology or machines. For master instruments our workshop uses naturally seasoned wood thirty years old. We choose the best tonewood ourselves – as is well known, mostly Italian spruce and Bosnian maple – and we mix our own varnish to a hundred-year-old Italian recipe using purely natural resins. The creativity of this craft never stops amazing me; I keep having to learn new things.

I make instruments that bring someone joy, and through them musicians pass that joy on to their listeners. I create something that makes sense from beginning to end, and that fulfils me. I am glad that instruments bearing my name can remain after me.

Yours, Michal Rácz