Rodney in his New Hampshire violin-making shop.

Rodney Miller began his career in violinmaking in 1972 as an apprentice to Jacob Doriath in the small town of Oblarn, Austria. He continued his training in the U.S. as student of Karl Roy, director of the Mittenwald, Germany school of violinmaking, at the University of New Hampshire Summer Violinmaking Institute. Rodney has also trained with physicist Carleen Hutchins, a pioneer of violin acoustical theories, and he has regularly participated in the advanced violinmakers’ workshops at Oberlin College.

 Since 1990, Rodney has been employed by Stamell Stringed Instruments, producing violins, violas and cellos from North American and European tonewoods. His instruments are acclaimed for their smooth, deeply resonant quality. Meticulously crafted, many of Rodney’s instruments exhibit the ornate inlay of the 17th century Italian Brescian style.
 
An outstanding example of Rodney’s violins can be heard on his new recording Spyglass Waltzes with Elvie Miller. The instrument heard on this recording is notable for its sonority and depth of tone. Click here to hear this violin.

2004 The Spyglass Violin

1993 Stradivarius style violin

To learn more about Miller’s concert and student grade violins, violas and cellos, go to
www.stamellstring.com/miller.html

With Matt Haimovitz and Rodney’s Copy of Matt’s Gofriller Cello

Matt Haimovitz made his debut in 1984 at the age of 13, as soloist with Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic. At 17 he made his first recording, performing the Saint-Sans, Lalo, and Bruch concerti with James Levine and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Haimovitz has since gone on to perform with the Berlin Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic, the English Chamber Orchestra, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Cleveland Orchestra. His cello was made by Matteo Gofriller in the early 1700's in Venice, Italy. It’s qualities inspired Rodney Miller to make a copy of the instrument.

Venetian cellos are renowned for their great depth and power of tone. Rodney’s copy of the Haimovitz Gofriller cello, made in 2005, is faithful to the overall dimensions (body length, bout widths) of the Gofriller and to the shape of the scroll and the f-holes. The tone of this cello is outstanding, staying true to the Venetian cello reputation.

Rodney Miller is a member of the Violin Society of America.