The 52nd Convention & 26th International Competition in Cleveland

Vendors & Exhibitors

Reserve Space Now

Our Vendor Prospectus provides all the details you need about participating as a vendor, including pricing, booth options, a link to our decorator’s Vendor Kit, and the Vendor Room floor plan. Simply review the Prospectus, choose your top three booth locations, and we’ll do our best to accommodate your preferences and help make the most of your presence.

View the Prospectus

View the Vendor Hall Map

Register as a Vendor

Already Registered as a Vendor? Please:

• complete this form to reserve vendor booth furnishing and supplies with Miller Party Rentals
• Contact lzsula@thehotelcleveland.com to coordinate direct-to-hotel shipping
• Reach vendorinfo@vsaweb.org with further inquiries

Sponsors

Support Your Community

Sponsoring the 52nd annual Convention is a unique opportunity to align your brand with The VSA community. Join us in the celebration of tradition and help inspire future generations of makers with your financial contribution. All support goes to the cost of producing convention activities, and we look forward to supporting your company's visibility in Cleveland and beyond.

The prospectus outlines tiered packages with exclusive branding opportunities for convention activites, including the 26th International Competition, receptions, concerts, and attendee luncheons. Sponsors can access high visibility perks such as podium remarks, dedicated event signage, program book ads, and year-long website recognition.

View the Prospectus

Please reach partnerships@vsaweb.org to begin your sponsorship.

The Scholarship Auction

About

The Scholarship Auction brings the community together to secure the future of the trade through a live auction of violin shop supplies, tools, instruments, materials and accessories.

The event is open to all convention attendees, and every dollar raised during this auction goes directly to The VSA's Scholarship Fund. Whether you are a donor, a passionate bidder, or both, you are supporting the continued professional development of artisans who will define the future of our field.

Call for Donations: $25,000 Goal

Your generous contributions will make this year’s auction the most successful yet. Large or small, your donations make a tangible impact toward our goal of raising $25,000 for scholarships. We are especially grateful for the support of partners like Howard Core, who have kicked off our efforts with a $5,000 in-kind donation.

We are accepting contributions at the Main Hall balcony from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of the convention week, including:

• Instrument Components & Parts
  Old violins (any condition), partial instruments, scrolls, tops, backs, neck grafts, ribs, bridges, and fingerboards.
• Tools & Workshop Supplies
  Chisels, gouges, planes, calipers, clamps, toolboxes, molds, patterns, sharpening stones, varnish, finishing products, and shop safety gear.
• Bow & String Accessories
  New and modern/Baroque bows, bundles of bows, fine tuners, tailpieces, chin rests, pegs, end pins, and strings.
• Professional & Reference Materials
  Reference books, music-themed prints, posters, music stands, tuners, and gift certificates for professional courses.
• Apparel & Miscellaneous
  Branded merchandise or decorative music and violin-themed items.

Note: Please contact us prior to the event to coordinate or discuss larger items. Receipts for donated items over $250 are available upon request.

The New Instrument Exhibit

& Sound Expo with The Verona Quartet

Open all week long, The New Instrument Exhibit (NIE) is an open showcase for contemporary violin and bow makers to display their work. It's non-competitive and hands on - an invitation to play, discuss, and appreciate each other's work. All entry fees support the ongoing mission and operational programs of the Violin Society of America.

Join a special session where violins, violas, cellos, and their bows from the NIE will be played by Cleveland's internationally renowned ensemble, The Verona Quartet. Violinists Jonathan Ong and Dorothy Ro, violist Abigail Rojansky, and cellist Jonathan Dormand will select items from the exhibit for an open discussion about sound and the experience of performing with contemporary instruments.

This is a rare opportunity to evaluate and appreciate the acoustical qualities of the latest work from VSA members around the world.

Show Your Work

Join the event as an exhibitor and share your work with the convention. Participants may submit one item in up to two categories (e.g., one violin and one viola) or up to four bows. Table space is limited and expected to sell out prior to the event. Entry is $175 per item.

Alongside your instrument or bow, please be prepared to provide a short maker biography, a headshot, and representative photos of your work. Exhibitors are also asked to leave a case on-site if possible. Reserve your place in the exhibit upon registering for the convention.

Domestic entries may be shipped in advance to our host shop, Cleveland Violins, or hand-delivered during check-in on Sunday, Nov 15. International entries must be hand-delivered. Items are expected to remain in the exhibit through Friday, Nov 20 at 3pm.

View & Play

Attendees are encouraged to view and play the exhibit items. Bows will be available throughout the room, or attendees may bring their own instrument or bow. Other personal items must be left at the exhibit entrance.

Interested buyers are encouraged to connect directly with the maker regarding private purchases. The VSA does not handle sales or provide sales support for NIE items.

A one-day Musicians Pass is available for $50, granting entrance to the exhibit and accompanying Sound Expo to non-VSA member professional musicians.