Charles Beare OBE - Director

Charles Beare was born in London in 1937. After National Service he learnt violin making at the Mittenwald School in 1958-59, and then went to study in New York at the invitation of the leading expert Rembert Wurlitzer at the beginning of 1960. There he received training in the art of restoration under Simone Fernando Sacconi, and at the same time had the opportunity to study a great many fine old instruments, including more than a hundred made by Antonio Stradivari himself.

After returning in the Spring of 1961 Charles took charge of the workshop, and in due course the running of the family business that had begun in 1892 and gradually became the leading house of its kind in London, specialising in the best old instruments and with an outstanding team of restorers.

In Cremona Charles chaired the Scientific Committee for the exhibition celebrating the 250th anniversary of Antonio Stradivari's death in 1987, and the following year received Honorary Citzenship. In 1994, he and his colleague Bruce Carlson produced the well-known book that records that event, and more recently Duane Rosengard and other close friends have been working with him on a comprehensive history of the Venetian violin and lute makers.