Now Hiring: Instrument Restorer in the Givens Violins Workshop

Job Title: Instrument Restorer in the Givens Violins Workshop
Department: Claire Givens Violins
Location: 1201 Marquette Avenue, Suite 150, Minneapolis, MN 55403             

Status: Full-Time 

Why Join Us?

Claire Givens Violins, a well-established violin shop in Minneapolis's city center, is hiring an additional full-time Instrument Restorer to work as part of our team. Givens Violins serves serious musicians across the five-state region and beyond and maintains a large inventory of new and historic instruments. The shop does not offer rentals.

About the Role

We seek a graduate of a violin-making school or someone with equivalent experience and advanced training. Ideal candidates are curious about the field, trustworthy, and collaborative.

Workshop responsibilities include setting up violins, violas, and cellos for sale, as well as handling more complex restorations. Restorations might include crack repairs, peg bushings, neck sets, fingerboard and bass bar replacements, edge grafts, varnish retouching, and tonal adjustments. Computer and playing skills would be an asset. 

Additional Training:

We offer an opportunity to develop and hone advanced restoration skills. Doug Lay, the workshop manager, mentors and oversees the workshop. As one of the most experienced and meticulous restorers nationwide, he works on or supervises the restoration of significant historical instruments.

Andrew Dipper operates a workshop at Givens Violins. Dipper Restorations focuses on historic instruments and bows. Andrew is a published historian and scholar and a member of the International Entente of Violin and Bow Makers (EILA), the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers (AFVBM), the Violin Society of America (VSA), and the American Musical Instrument Society (AMIS). His work is held in many international and national museums and private collections. The Dipper workshop specializes in the conservation and restoration of significant historical examples of musical instruments, including those by G.P. Maggini, Jacob Stainer, and Barak Norman, amongst many others.

Further Study:

Givens Violins recognizes the importance of further study and supports it by paying for coursework tuition and related transportation costs. 

Compensation and Benefits:

An hourly wage, as well as quarterly bonuses based on the success of the instrument and bow sales effort. There is also a monthly bonus for customer repairs completed and billed. Hourly pay rate is based on experience and results and is negotiable.

Benefits include paid vacation, holidays, sick pay, health and disability insurance, a cafeteria plan, and employee discounts. There is also a Moving Expenses allowance. The hours are from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Tuesday through Saturday.

For more information about what living in Minneapolis has to offer, please visit our full job posting on our website

For consideration, send a resume to: cgivens@givensviolins.com