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Riedstra's Violin Shop (14682 bytes)
About Us and Jobs

Riedstra's Violin Shop Inc is a full service violin, viola, cello, bass and bow dealer and repair facility.  We also have  a new division that sells and services (minor repairs) all brass and woodwind instruments.

Members of our staff have a combined total of over 80 years experience and training to help you with your violin family instrument needs.

Job Opportunities: Click here for more information about one opening currently available.

Henry Riedstra, Honours B.A., B.Ed.: president, with over 30 years experience as a luthier (violin and bow maker/restorer) and appraiser. Apprenticed in violin making and restoration (1978-1984) with Pete Molenaar (professional European violin maker, restorer, appraiser, and reseacher) of Toronto . Henry undertook further in-depth training in appraisal and authentication, including some time with Dario D'Attili. Henry used to play the cello professionally in the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra, as well as performing free-lance and studio work. In addition to the cello, he also plays the violin. He has also been a teacher since 1979. Henry has also repaired brass and woodwind instruments for many years..

Linda Riedstra, B.A., B.Ed.: Store Manager and book keeper.

Xiaodong Guan started working for Riedstra's Violin Shop Inc in November of 1999 and is an expert in restoration and newly made instruments . He has worked in violin shops for over 20 years and consequently has gained much experience. In 1985 he started building his own instruments and as of August 2006, he has built about 140 violins, 20 violas and 24 cellos. He has also had four years of in-depth training in the CREMONA School of Violin Making Techniques from master Quan Zheng (graduate of Cremona in 1986). He is one of Master Quan Zheng's finest pupils, perhaps the best. In Canada he is one of the top builders and restorers of instruments.  One of his professional cellos is available for sale in our store in Kitchener.

Quentin Bouvron is a graduate of the School of Violin Making in Newark, England.  He received the position of full-time violin maker and restorer in our store in Kitchener in August 2006.  He has already received a commission to build a special 5-string violin at our store in Kitchener for a Jazz violinist in Toronto.

Richard Manuel started his full-time training in violin making, and violin and bow restoration with Henry Riedstra in our Stratford Workshop on May 1st, 2006.

William Aitken, a fine violin and mandolin maker, and maker of other instruments too, works part-time for Riedstra's Violin Shop.  He occasionally works in our store in Kitchener as well.

Filip Tomov is a fine restorer of instruments and bows with 30 years experience. He is a well- trained violin maker, having studied with Ivan Kaloferov in Sofia, Bulgaria (He is listed in the Addendum of the Henley book on violin makers) and restoration with Rene Veiga in Havana.   In addition to having excellent skills in setting up instruments and rehairing bows, he is also a very fine violinist. Mr. Tomov works part-time for us.

Davin Riedstra, our son, is a part-time clerk in our store. In addition to learning to do basic repairs on student instruments, he has also taken violin playing lessons for a few years.

Three other trained violin and bow makers/ repairmen work for us on a part-time basis. In addition, our two daughters also help in the Stratford shop! Both play the violin and one plays Bass as well.

Riedstra's Brass and Woodwind Shop (Sales and Repairs)

We give free estimates for all major and minor overhauls and repairs on all makes of brass or woodwind and will advise you on whether it is worthwhile for your instrument.

We will consider all brass and woodwind instruments for consignment.

We will consider purchasing your used instruments or taking them in as a partial trade-in on another new or pre-owned instrument.
Our techinicians come into the shop when needed.   You will receive a receipt when you leave your instrument in our violin shop area at the same address, and Henry Riedstra will consult with our technicians as to the estimated cost of repairing your instrument.   Henry or Linda Riedstra will get back to you within a few days and will discuss with you the cost of all the major and minor repairs, and/or restoration of your woodwind or brass instrument.   Putting your instrument into Play Condition for example, will be a lower price than restoring the instrument to like new.

Please speak with Henry or Linda Riedstra in Kitchener or in Stratford. Linda was the lead clarinet player in the Hanover High School band.  Henry taught instrumental music (brass, woodwind, percussion and strings) at the high school level for 6 years and was a professional trombone player in dance bands and community concert bands for over 35 years.  He also played oboe for a year. Henry is able to play test all brass and woodwind instruments. In addition, Henry is a professional violin maker, restorer and appraiser, as well as a cellist (although he sometimes plays violin, viola or bass when required).

Other Musicians in our Family:
Richard F. Riedstra was the head of Music at Elmira District Secondary School from 1965 to 1987.  
Maria G. Riedstra taught Strings in elementary and secondary schools in Waterloo County for fifteen years. 
Lutzen Riedstra is a fine bassoonist.  
Kyla Riedstra played the flute for five years in high school and studied violin for many years. She also played in the Kitchener Waterloo Youth Orchestra as a violinist. 
Janelle Riedstra played the Trumpet and Baritone and  String Bass for several years in high school, as well as two years in the Kitchener  Waterloo Youth Orchestra.
Davin Riedstra is a trombonist.

Examples of some of the repairs we have done and will do for you:
At the present time (August 2005), we are repairing a Besson 2-20 tuba, a Conn trombone, an Artley flute and an old Army bugle. In July, some of our repairs included a Cabart oboe (which we have on consignment), a German Sonora maple bassoon, and a complete overhaul on an Andre Bardot flute.  We have also setup several new instruments which we are stocking in the store for sale.
For example: On all makes of woodwinds (including sax), we clean and disinfect and lube, supply missing parts, install new pads (repadding), replace head cork, new felt, new key corks, new springs, pivot screws, guard screws, and new posts. We also re-level pads and regulate them, round out and adjust joints and tenons for proper fit, improve the action, remove dents, solder, or unsolder and re-solder loose parts, align, reposition, reshape and straighten bent keys and rods, levers and springs, and eliminate buzzes and noises. Furthermore, we do regulation of keys, level the tone holes, and replace thumbrest screws, dissassemble and reassemble, and test play all instruments. We will quote on relacquering and replating if needed or wanted.  In essence, we can provide you with a thorough overhaul.

For example: On all makes of brass instruments, we remove dents, lube stuck slides and valves, align trombone slides and other slides, brush polish valves and casings, replace screws, supply new lead pipes, replace missing parts, level bell rims, roll out creases, and eliminate buzzes and noises, replace felts and cork, water key springs; unassemble, re-assemble, untwist, unsolder, or solder, and re-solder braces and loose parts, and straighten mouthpiece shanks.  Not only that, but we also do complete valve jobs, clean, brush and polish, and test play all instruments. On French Horns, we also fix and unseize binding or stuck rotors, fix braces, and restring as well.  We will quote on relacquering and replating if needed or wanted. Essentially, we can provide you with a thorough overhaul.

On cases, we can fix or replace case latches, and parts, glue loose linings and clean them or supply a new case.

Job Opportunities:  We need a fully-trained, experienced, professional violin restorer/luthier.  Please send your resume with references to the address below.

We also have an opening for a trained part-time brass and woodwind repair person at our store in Kitchener, Ontario.   Please send your resume to the address below.

Qualified applicants: If you would like us to keep your application on file, please send your application to our Stratford location at:

Riedstra's Violin Shop
38 Neal Avenue
Stratford, Ontario, Canada    N5A 6W8