The Staff
Benjamin DeCorsey, Member-Owner
Benjamin is a graduate of Lawrence University having studied English and Music with a concentration in Jazz Guitar. After 10 years in the coffee industry and having had a fascination with instrument-making since childhood, he went on to attend the New World School of Violin Making in Presque Isle, Wisconsin studying with Brian Derber. In addition to his work on the bench, Benjamin is an active musician playing both guitar and Irish bouzouki in a variety of folk and rock ensembles. He enjoys old movies, art and reading fiction.
Thuy Nguyen, Member-Owner
Thuy received her Bachelor’s in Music Management at the Hartt School. She has been playing violin for over 24 years and has studied with Robert DePasquale, Anton Miller, and Emlyn Ngai. Thuy is an active teacher, freelancer, composer, and performer.
Adam Oleksa, Member-Owner
Adam has played violin for over 30 years, specializing in both classical music and traditional Scottish fiddling. Since joining the shop in 2012, he trained in bow repair and rehairs with Ms. Shaak. Adam has completed a variety of violin and bow setup, making, and restoration courses, including instruction from Hans Nebel, bow- and frog-making courses with David Hawthorne and David Forbes, and multiple Oberlin Bow Restoration Weeks.
Charlotte Allen, Member
Charlotte is an artist with a background in business and financial planning. She is passionate about music and art, and loves using her skills to create a welcoming environment where people can feel their best and be their most creative self. In her free time she enjoys going to the movies, sketching, and traveling.
Elizabeth Vander Veer Shaak, Bowmaker and Founder
Elizabeth trained with bowmakers Bill Salchow in New York, Jean Grunberger in Paris and Pierre Guillaume in Brussels, Belgium. She began her work at Primavera House of Violins in 1982 and went on to establish Bow Studio of Philadelphia. In 2003 she established Mount Airy Violins & Bows in honor of the shop’s present neighborhood. Elizabeth continues her craft and has attended the Oberlin Bowmakers Workshop for over 19 years. Elizabeth plays traditional French, Swedish and old-time fiddle.
Roscoe Buchanan
Roscoe is our current shop dog. He is quite friendly, and enjoys sniffing *all* the things, playing fetch, and reducing his toys into their constituent pieces (and even further).