Victor Bernard Bowmaker

Victor BERNARD was born in 1985 in Compiègne, north of Paris, France.

At 20 years old, he crossed the Channel to study at the Newark School of Violin Making from where he graduated in 2008.

Passionate about bow making, he joined Maison Bernard in Brussels the same year to work under Pierre Guillaume’s expertise in bow making and restoration where he was able to develop his taste for antique bows and grow his expertise.

He multiplied work experiences with renowned bow makers in Europe.

In 2014, he joined the Atelier Flagey in Brussels and work alongside with violinmaker Joanne Van Bosterhaut.

Victor is a founding member of Ekho, an association created for the promotion of contemporary violin and bow making through exhibitions, concerts, masterclasses…

His work has been recognized by the Marcel Vatelot Foundation and received a grant to help him develop his workshop and prepare international bow making competitions.

He regularly takes part in International bow making exhibitions, France, Germany, Italia, England, Ireland, United States, Japan.

Awards :

• VSA Violin Society of America (2022 Los Angeles): Gold Medal – violin, Certificat of Merit – viola – cello
• Viola’s Paris 2019: First Prize Bow making
• VSA Violin Society of America (2018 Cleveland): Gold Medal – Bass, Certificat of Merit – violin – viola – cello
• International Bow making Competition Mittenwald, Germany (2018): Silver medal – viola – cello
• VSA Violin Society of America (2016 Cleveland): Certificat of Merit – violin
• Viola’s 2016: Coup de coeur from Genviève STROSSER
• VSA Violin Society of America (2014 Indianapolis): Certificat of Merit – violin
• International Bow making Competition Mittenwald, Germany (2014): Gold medal – viola, Bronze medal – cello
• Violoncelle en Seine, Paris (2012): Finalist Certificat