The Violin in America - Benoît Rolland

Exhibition Event Calendar
Concerts & Educational Programming
Open Case Days
Did you ever want to open a museum exhibit case and play the instrument on display Now you can! Beginning in March
on the last Monday of each month, the Museum will open its violin exhibit cases to allow professional and amateur musicians,
as well as stringed instrument students & teachers the chance to play on a selection of fine acoustic and electric violins from
today’s top makers. This opportunity is FREE and available by appointment only.
Yamaha String Educator Development Seminar
The Museum hosts an opportunity for string educators to gain experience with the growing popularity of electronic stringed
instruments. Educators can see an actual acoustic quartet transform into a fully electronic ensemble. Technical aspects
are discussed in layman’s terms and questions are answered by Yamaha staff and quartet performers. Sound reinforcement
requirements, instrument specifications and repertoire are presented in detail. For educators, the end result will be the ability
to incorporate an electronic string ensemble into their current programs. This event is scheduled for late spring with more
details to follow.
August 30, 2008: Antonio Pontarelli: From Acoustic to Electric - 5 PM
Antonio Pontarelli picked up a violin at the age of three and started winning competitions by age seven. He was soon
playing on national television, and his performance and arrangement of Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze” won NBC’s
“America’s Most Talented Kids” Grand Championship in November 2004. In 2005, he had the honor of being named
the “Outstanding Young Rock Musician” by the Young Artist Awards. Today, Pontarelli focuses
on performing with his band and recording his debut CD. He also spends time promoting the
GRAMMY organization’s educational programs and bringing music into the lives of those who
are less fortunate through the Music Prodigy Foundation, which he founded in 2001.
In this rock-focused, educational demonstration, workshop and concert, Pontarelli introduces
guests to the electric violin by showcasing the evolution of sound and music from acoustic to
electric. With his electric violins and accompanied by an acoustic/electric guitarist and pianist,
Pontarelli compares and contrasts a variety of electric violins from his collection with those from
the museum display.
Tickets:
$15 for the General Public; $12 for Museum Members; $7 for Students.
For information, tickets and reservations: Call Jillian Jepsen at (760) 438-5996, ext. 212.
Special Thanks
Supporters, Sponsors & Friends
The exhibition would not be possible without the generosity of our supporters, sponsors and friends across the U.S. Their time, expertise,
artifact loans, and donations have helped craft this historic exhibition. Thank you.
Gregg T. Alf, Ann Arbor, MI
Robert Ames, Fort Lee, NJ
Paul Becker, Carl Becker & Son Ltd., Chicago, IL
Steven Beckley, Little River, CA
David Bromberg, David Bromberg Fine Violins, Wilmington, DE
Jim Brown, Southern California Association of Violin Makers, Claremont, CA
David Burgess, Ann Arbor, MI
Ruth Charles, Glendale, CA
Joseph Curtin, Ann Arbor, MI
Ken Dattmore, Yamaha, Buena Park, CA
Eastman Strings, Clarksburg, MD
Roland Feller, San Francisco, CA
Teresa and Merle Fischlowitz, San Diego, CA
David Folland, Northfield, MN
Christopher Germain, Mount Airy, MD
Gold Diggers - Gifts of Loving Donors, San Diego, CA
Joseph Grubaugh & Sigrun Seifert, Petaluma, CA
John Hall, Rickenbacker International Co., Santa Ana, CA
Jay Ifshin, Berkeley, CA
Phil Janikowski, Escondido, CA
John Jordan, Jordan Electric Violins, Concord, CA
Francis Kuttner, San Francisco, CA
La Costa Dental Group, Carlsbad, CA
Anthony Lane, Petaluma, CA
André Larson, National Music Museum, Vermillion, SD
Neil Lilien, Meisel Stringed Instruments, Springfield, NJ
David A. Lusterman, String Letter Publishing, San Anselmo, CA
Mark Wood Violins, Port Washington, NY
Joe McNalley, The Hutchins Consort, Encinitas, CA
Beth Miller, Vista, CA
NAMM, the International Music Products Association, Carlsbad, CA
NAMM Resource Center, Carlsbad, CA
Guy Rabut, New York, NY
Douglas Raguse, Cedar, MI
Benoît Rolland, Charlestown, MA
Andrew Ryan, Providence, RI
Isaac Salchow, New York, NY
Jade J. Schultz, Southern California Association of Violin Makers, La Jolla, CA
Dr. William Sloane, Los Angeles, CA
Kevin Smith, The Violin Shop, San Diego, CA
Ned Steinberger, Nobleboro, ME
Takahashi Family Fund , San Diego, CA
William M. Townsend, The Amati Foundation, San Francisco, CA
Rick Turner, Rick Turner Guitar Co., Santa Cruz, CA
Yamaha Orchestral Strings Division, Buena Park, CA
David Russell Young, Longmont, CO
Zeta Music, Tempe, AZ
Samuel Zygmuntowicz, New York, NY