Jul 1, 2016

As though the spacious showroom could not become any more pleasing with its high ceilings, numerous windows, oriental carpet and walls lined with stringed instruments, the sound of a violin pierces the silence, making the room come alive with music.

: Carolyn Foulkes tunes small violins in preparation for a 7-year-old customer who will be renting a violin this summer from Perrin & Associates Fine Violins. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: At Perrin & Associates Fine Violins, craftsperson Erika Grant holds the smallest violin, made for a child 4 years old. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Katherine Jeffreys, 20, from Parkton, MD who is in the market for a new bow, plays her cello with one of the new bows she’s considering at Perrin and Associates Fine Violins, founded in 1994. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Perrin & Associates founder Rodger Perrin cuts string channels for a cello bridge designed and crafted by Perrin. He says, “I was passionate about Mozart and Beethoven when I was five years old.” His love for classical music progressed from playing violins to building, restoring and repairing violins, violas and cellos. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Pictured is a viola in the making. At left is quartered spruce that will be the top. In the center is the partially carved back made of maple. At right is an interior mold and template for forming the sides of the viola. Perrin and Associates Fine Violins, founded in 1994, make, repair and restore violins and cellos for the aspiring to the accomplished musician. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Carolyn Foulkes determines the proper size of a violin for Tessa Ahn, 7, from Woodstock, MD, as Tessa’s mother, Misu Ahn, looks on from left. Tessa is beginning an introductory to violin class this summer. Perrin and Associates Fine Violins makes, repairs and restores violins and cellos for the aspiring to the accomplished musician. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: In the foreground is a carved scroll of a modern replica of a Baroque cello. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Rodger Perrin, founder of Perrin and Associates Fine Violins, tunes a violin. Perrin says, “One of the real pleasures of this business is that we work with musicians of every level. So it’s very gratifying to be introducing a beginning violinist or cellist to the very first instrument they’ll ever hold. It’s equally exciting to do adjustments with some of the best players in Baltimore and nationally.” (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Rodger Perrin, founder of Perrin and Associates Fine Violins in 1994, is pictured in one of the showrooms. The company makes, repairs and restores violins and cellos for the aspiring to the accomplished musician. Perrin says, “I was passionate about Mozart and Beethoven when I was five years old.” His love for classical music progressed from playing violins to building, restoring and repairing violins, violas and cellos. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Owner Rodger Perrin prepares to install a new bridge and strings on a cello. He says, “I was passionate about Mozart and Beethoven when I was five years old.” His love for classical music progressed from playing violins to building, restoring and repairing violins, violas and cellos. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: The new bridge on this cello was designed and crafted by Perrin & Associates Fine Violins. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: While being exacting in their work, the craftsmen at Perrin & Associates retain their sense of humor with the help of this rubber chicken. The chicken -currently attached to cello cases- has a note on it’s back directing the finder to move it to another place. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: At Perrin and Associates Fine Violins, primary bow specialist Carolyn Foulkes examines the “scoop” on a violin finger board. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: A cello scroll is reflected in a mirror in one of the showrooms. Performance venues and education of the craftsmen at Perrin & Associates Fine Violins range from MICA and the Peabody Conservatory to musical institutions in Boston, London and Glasgow. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: As though the spacious showroom could not become any more pleasing with its high ceilings, numerous windows, oriental carpet and walls lined with stringed instruments, the sound of a violin pierces the silence, making the room come alive with music. Conor Chaikowsky, 15, tries out violins in one of two showrooms at Perrin and Associates Fine Violins. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Conor Chaikowsky, 15, tries out violins in one of two showrooms at Perrin and Associates Fine Violins. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Hanging on the wall At Perrin & Associates Fine Violins is the back of a German violin, circa 1880, with decorative mother-of-pearl inlay as well as other wood inlays. At left, craftsperson Erika Grant heads to another work space in the shop. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Carolyn Foulkes, left, and Erika Grant re-hair bows in one of the work spaces at Perrin and Associates. Performance venues and education of the craftsmen at Perrin & Associates range from MICA and the Peabody Conservatory to musical institutions in Boston, London and Glasgow. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Craftsperson Erika Grant prepares horse hair to re-hair a bow at Perrin and Associates Fine Violins. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Carolyn Foulkes, Perrin & Associates primary bow specialist, displays parts of the bow, including the frog, at bottom, which holds the horse hair. At the top is the adjustor screw which operates the motion of the frog. In the center is the stick of the bow. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Primary bow specialist Carolyn Foulkes loads horse hair into the head of the bow. Performance venues and education of the craftsmen at Perrin & Associates range from MICA and the Peabody Conservatory to musical institutions in Boston, London and Glasgow. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Perrin and Associates Fine Violins, founded in 1994, is located on the second floor of this Charles Street building. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

Rodger Perrin, founder of Perrin & Associates Fine Violins in 1994 in Baltimore, says, “I was passionate about Mozart and Beethoven when I was five years old.” His love for classical music progressed from playing violins to building, restoring and repairing violins, violas and cellos. Performance venues and education of the craftsmen at Perrin & Associates range from MICA and the Peabody Conservatory to musical institutions in Boston, London and Glasgow.

Perrin says, “One of the real pleasures of this business is that we work with musicians of every level. So it’s very gratifying to be introducing a beginning violinist or cellist to the very first instrument they’ll ever hold. It’s equally exciting to do adjustments with some of the best players in Baltimore and nationally.”

Keeping music alive at Perrin & Associates Fine Violins from Baltimore Sun's The Darkroom on Vimeo.

Keeping music alive at Perrin & Associates Fine Violins

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