Eric Caldwell

Eric Caldwell is a luthier who specializes in bowed instruments. He currently makes violins, violas, and cellos in his workshop.
Personal Life
Born in Lawrence, Kansas in 1976. His interest in violin making was the culmination of a family
background in woodworking and a personal interest in music. While studying oboe in California, Caldwell enrolled in a summer workshop making violins with Karl Roy. (Roy is a teacher and the former director of the Bavarian State School for Violin-making in Mittenwald, Germany.) It was his advice for Caldwell to continue in this business.
Family Histroy
Caldwell is a 6th generation* woodworker:
*Generation 1: James Casper Bradford (Born January 3, 1844 in Coshocton County, Ohio; Builder of railroad cars; Died August 11, 1921 in Parsons, Kansas)
*Generation 2: Lettie Bradford (Born September 5, 1868 in McLean County, Illinois; Daughter of James Casper; Died May 10, 1957 in Parsons, Kansas) married John Presley Caldwell (Born February 6, 1866 Parke County, Indiana; Carpenter; Died December 17, 1951 in Osawatomie, Kansas)
*Generation 3: Elmer Elzie Caldwell (Born May 8, 1890 in Labette County, Kansas, second son on Lettie and John Presley; Carpenter; Died April 30, 1963 in Erie, Kansas)
*Generation 4: Ralph Henderson Caldwell (Born July 26, 1912 in Shaw, Kansas, eldest son of Elmer Elzie; Carpenter; Died Chanute, Kansas)
*Generation 5: Larry Jo Caldwell (Born June 26, 1946 in Erie, Kansas; Carpenter circa 1960-1976; still living)
*Generation 6: Eric Caldwell (second son of Larry Jo; luthier)
(*John Bradford I (Born 1745 in Yorkshire, England; grandfather of James Casper Bradford; Died 1830 in Coshocton County, Ohio), according to family lore, worked as a carpenter but this has yet to be confirmed.)
Career
Training
Studied under Karl Roy in California and New Hampshire. In 1997, Caldwell studied for one week under Roy at California Lutheran University. For three more summers he studied with Roy at the University of New Hampshire, Durham and honed his skills. Caldwell completed his first violin in 1997.
In the Workplace
From 1998-2009, he worked mostly as a repairman for many shops in New England, the mid-west, and the mid-atlantic United States. Started working for the Potter Violin Company in 2006 and soon thereafter assumed responsibility as Repair Department Manager. He left the firm in 2009 to pursue instrument making full time in his home-based workshop.
Awards
*Certificate of Merit for Tone for Violin from The Violin Society of America's 19th International Competition and Exhibition in Cleveland, Ohio on November 7-11, 2010.
*Invitation to include two violins at The Art of Sound 2011 Exhibition and color photograph book of living makers by A. Cavallo Violins, LLC.

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