Benning Violins is a California-based

luthier A luthier ( ; AmE also ) is a craftsperson who builds or repairs string instruments that have a neck and a sound box. The word "luthier" is originally French and comes from the French word for lute. The term was originally used for makers o ...

business, crafting, restoring and repairing violins, violas and cellos since its opening in 1950 as Studio City Music. In 1953, it moved to its current location on

Ventura Boulevard Ventura Boulevard is one of the primary east–west thoroughfares in the San Fernando Valley region of the City of Los Angeles, California. Ventura Boulevard is one of the oldest routes in the San Fernando Valley as it was originally a part o ...

. Learning the craft from his brother-in-law, Carl Becker Sr., Paul Toenniges worked in William Lewis & Son in Chicago, and later under Rudolf Wurlitzer, finally opening his first studio in Los Angeles. Crafting up to five instruments a year, they sell for approximately 30-42 thousand dollars. Nancy, one of founder Paul Toenniges' daughters, together with her husband, Hans Benning, took over the studio in 1978 after Paul's retirement. Nancy and Hans studied violin making at the Violinmaking School in

Mittenwald Mittenwald is a German municipality in the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in Bavaria. Geography Mittenwald is located approximately 16 kilometres to the south-east of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. It is situated in the Valley of the River Isar, b ...

. Luthier Eric Benning, Nancy and Hans' son who trained with celebrated maker

Carl Fredrick Becker Carl Fredrick Becker (also known as Carl F. Becker and Carl Becker Jr.) (1919 – January 30, 2013) was an American luthier and restorer, known for restoring the " Lady Blunt" 1721 Stradivarius violin. He had a reputation as "one of America's f ...

, currently runs the business, while his son Nathan also performs as a luthier. Notable musicians who bought Benning instruments include

Paul Coletti Paul Coletti (born 1959 in Edinburgh) is a Scottish viola soloist and chamber musician. He has performed throughout the world, making solo appearances at the Sydney Opera House, Queen Elizabeth Hall (London) and Teatro Colón (Buenos Aires). H ...

, Sid Weiss,

Victor Gaskin Roderick Victor Gaskin (November 23, 1934 – July 14, 2012) was an American jazz bassist. Gaskin was born in The Bronx, New York and moved to Los Angeles in 1962. He started playing with Paul Horn and Red Mitchell and went on to become one of ...

(used while recording

Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was based ...

70th Birthday Concert 70th Birthday Concert may refer to: * 70th Birthday Concert (John Mayall & the Bluesbreaker album) * 70th Birthday Concert (Duke Ellington album) {{dab ...

) and

Arnold Jacobs Arnold Maurice Jacobs (June 11, 1915 – October 7, 1998) was an American tubist who spent most of his career with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He held that position from 1944 until his retirement in 1988. Jacobs was considered one of the fo ...

, while Hans Benning restored and maintained several of

Jascha Heifetz Jascha Heifetz (; December 10, 1987) was a Russian-born American violinist. Born in Vilnius, he moved while still a teenager to the United States, where his Carnegie Hall debut was rapturously received. He was a virtuoso since childhood. Fritz ...

's instruments during the latter part of his life. Benning Violins also maintained some of

Nathaniel Ayers Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, Jr. (born January 31, 1951) is an American musician. He is the subject of numerous newspaper columns, a book, and a The Soloist, 2009 film adaptation based on the columns. A foundation bearing his name was started in 2008 ...

' violins. The Benning family has donated numerous instruments and taught students in

Vicente Guerrero, Baja California Vicente Guerrero is a colonia located in the San Quintin Valley, Baja California, Mexico. An agricultural area, it is approximately south of the Tijuana/San Ysidro border checkpoint. Vicente Geurero experiences a desert climate The desert cl ...

. One of their students, Tito Quiroz, founded a music school in Ensenada named the Benning Academia de Musica. The Bennings have visited the academy in Ensenada about once a fortnight since 1978. Hans Benning and Quiroz also worked to build a music studio in an Ensenada prison, and conduct rehabilitation work at the Foundation For His Ministry mission in Baja California.

Paul Toenniges

Its founder, Paul Toenniges, was born in De Kalb, Illinois to Frederic and Elizabeth Toenniges on December 18, 1908. After graduating from DeKalb High School in 1925, he moved to Chicago to work with Lewis & Son while living with Carl Becker, a prominent luthier. In 1934, Toenniges married Ruth Breinstein. During WWII, Paul resorted to American curly birch, given European wood became unavailable. In 1946, he moved to LA together with his wife, and started working at the Wurlitzer Violin Collection, making instruments at home during his own time. Realising he wanted to dedicate to the restoration and sale of fine instruments, he set up shop in 1953. At the time, he sold all types of instruments, involving his two daughters in the business by 1956, Nancy in particular.

Hans and Nancy Benning

Nancy attended the renowned violin making school in Mittenwald, where she met her future husband. They ran the studio since the late 1970s until recently.

References

External links

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Los Angeles Times Columnist Steve Lopez visits Benning ViolinsListing of Paul Toenniges bass violins
{{DEFAULTSORT:Benning Violins American luthiers

Paul Toenniges

Hans and Nancy Benning

References

Further reading

External links