Amati > Makers Archive > George SCHLIEPS

George SCHLIEPS

Biographies

John Dilworth

SCHLIEPS, George Born 1894 St. Petersburg Russia, died 1977 New York USA. Nephew of the composer Alxander Glazunov. Trained as a lawyer. Learned violin making with E. Geisser. Moved to Finland where he lived in Viipuri and established a business in Helsinki. Given access to Harry Wahl’s collection of fine Cremonese work and was appointed luthier to the Sibelius Academy 1936. Worked in Stockholm and Estonia 1939. From 1944 he took care of the collection at the Hochschule fur Musik in Berlin, following the death of Arthur Voss. In 1947 invited by the British Ministry of Labour to organise a violin factory in Bridgend for the benefit of ex-soldiers. Was recommended by Phillips Hill to Wurlitzer in New York, which he joined in 1950. Established independently in 1952 in Carnegie Hall. Made over 250 instruments on various classical models. Later assisted by his son Armin Andre, above.