About Us

Who are we?

Perrin & Associates Fine Violins was established in Baltimore in 1994 with a vision to provide violins, violas, cellos, and repair and restoration services to the professional as well as the aspiring musician. We create an environment where all string players feel comfortable talking with us about their instruments, trying a variety of instruments and bows, discussing repair options, and trying new accessories. We work hard to have a wide range of instruments on hand—from wonderful historical examples, outstanding instruments by great modern makers, to quality instruments for the beginner. We also have a wide range of bows, from contemporary Brazilian to rare French.

Rodger Perrin

Rodger established in Baltimore with expertise in the restoration of fine instruments after working at the firm of Bein & Fushi in Chicago. One of the original graduates of the violin making program at the North Bennet Street School in Boston, in 1987, he returned to serve on the faculty there just prior to opening Perrin & Associates in 1994. http://www.nbss.org/programs/violin-making-and-repair/index.aspx  In addition to restorations at the highest level, he also offers fine instrument expertise, and tonal adjustments, involving the sound post, bridge, alignment and string selection, that bring some of the best instruments in the region to peak levels of performance.

Carolyn Foulkes

Carolyn repairs instruments and is our primary bow specialist, providing most of the rehairing and restoring of bows.  After an apprenticeship with Rodger Perrin in 2004 she joined the company full time in 2005.  Training includes the Violin Craftsmanship Institute at the University of New Hampshire under Horst Kloss, from 1998 to 2000, and a  return to the Violin Craftsmanship Institute in 2010 where she studied bow restoration with Lynn Hannnings. She has a B.M. in Music Education from Oberlin Conservatory of Music, a Licentiate Diploma in Conducting from the Guildhall School of Music in London, and an M.M. in Performance from the Peabody Conservatory. Her performance experience includes the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the Baltimore Opera Orchestra. She taught for 26 years at the Baltimore School for the Arts.

Erika Grant

Erika has been multi-tasking at Perrin & Associates since 2007. Hers is the cheerful voice you are most likely to hear on the phone when you call. She is also responsible for being sure that we have the string or shoulder pad or chinrest or mute that you wish to try. Her background includes a BFA from Maryland Institute College of Art, making her especially skillful with the color palate and materials used in varnish restoration. Additionally, she has a Masters in Art Therapy from Vermont College. Our cellist on staff, she has studied the instrument with Seth Low of the Baltimore Symphony and Kerena Fox-Moeller, formerly of Baltimore, and served as principal cellist of the Greenspring Valley Orchestra from 1993-1998. And she rehairs bows!