Board of Directors

Serving The VSA Community

The VSA Board of Directors brings together leading violin makers, restorers, dealers and industry professionals who volunteer their expertise to advance the mission of The VSA. Our board members represent diverse aspects of the string instrument world, from traditional craftsmanship to modern business practices, ensuring that The VSA continues to serve our members and the broader musical community.

Officers

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Colin Maki

President

Based in New York City, Colin is a dealer specializing in the restoration and sale of rare and antique stringed instruments and their bows. He joined the VSA Board of Directors in 2020 and coordinates with his considerable network of players and collectors to curate the Rare Instrument Exhibition at our annual conventions.

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Julian Cossmann Cooke

Past President of The VSA

Julian is a violin maker based in Austin, TX. He attended the Violin Making School of America after a career with the US government. Cossmann Violins offers newly commissioned instruments as well as instrument repair and restoration services to the Austin area. Julian has been a member of the VSA Board of Directors since 2018 and was elected Board President in 2022.

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Brandon Godman

President Elect

Brandon owns The Violin Shop in Nashville, TN, and The Fiddle Mercantile in San Francisco, CA. He’s also an avid fiddle player and maintains a busy tour schedule. Brandon hosted the wildly popular “Tomato Can Fiddle Challenge” at the Anaheim convention, which set him up to serve as Co-Chair of the Programming committee for the 2023 and 2024 conventions.

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Charles F Tucker IV

Secretary

Charles is a violin enthusiast and future violin maker who lives in Houston, TX. He was elected to the VSA Board of Directors in 2022 after a successful career working abroad for a major multinational energy company. He brings his vast organizational and professional experience to the role of Board Secretary.

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Chris Clark

Treasurer

Chris is co-owner of Top Notch Violins in St. Louis, MO, where he focuses on business operations and leading a large team. Has served as treasurer of the VSA since 2020, and oversees the VSA balance sheet and investment accounts.

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Chris Ulbricht

1st Vice President and Chair, Programming Committee

Chris runs Indianapolis Violins with his wife, Laura Barcelo. A graduate of the Violin Making School of America, Chris builds violins and cellos in addition to running the daily operations of his shop, Indianapolis Violins. Chris has been a member of the VSA Board since 2018 and served as Programming Chair for the 2021 and 2022 conventions. He’s now chair of the Publications Committee.

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Anya Burgess

2nd Vice President & Chair, Membership and Marketing Committee

Anya runs Sola Violins in Lafayette, LA. She attended the violin making program at Indiana University before opening her own shop in south Louisiana, where she also performs regularly as a fiddle player. Anya was elected to the VSA Board in 2020, maintains The VSA’s social media and works to enhance the member experience as chair of the Membership & Marketing committee.

Members

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Joe Joyner

Co-Chair, Competition Committee

Joe has owned and operated Little Rock Violin Shop in Little Rock, AR, since 2007. His prior experience includes attending the Bow Making School of America and working at the Lisle Violin Shop. Joe curated the New Instrument Exhibit for the 2021 and 2022 VSA Conventions, and currently serves as co-chair of the Competition committee.

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Petio Kostov

Member

Petio is an award-winning violin maker and owner of Classic Violins in Mundelein, IL. His studies began in Bulgaria and continued at the Chicago School of Violin Making, where he currently serves on the Board as Vice President. Petio joined the VSA Board of Directors in 2022.

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Florence Haseler

Member

Florence is an experienced auction professional and musician based in New York. In 2012 she joined Tarisio Fine Instrument & Bows in London and rose to General Manager and Head of Auctions, overseeing major operations and client development, before advancing to the role of Business Manager for Christie’s departments of Impressionist & Modern Art and Post-War & Contemporary Art in 2024. A graduate of the University of York with a BA in Music, Florence is classically trained in viola and piano performance. She has also served on the Steering Committee of Lincoln Center Young Patrons.

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Laura C. Barceló

Member

Laura Barceló is the Director of Operations at Three Sixty Group, an Indianapolis-based advertising agency. In addition to her work in advertising, she is co-owner of Indianapolis Violins, a full-service violin shop. She holds an MBA from Indiana University as well as degrees in violin performance from Butler University and the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University.

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Kathy Reilly

Member

Kathy is the co-owner of Vermont Violins and the Burlington Violin Shop, which she has operated with her husband since founding the business in 1994. A violinist by training with a degree from Oberlin College and a Master of Science in Botany from the University of Vermont, Kathy combines her passion for music and environmental stewardship in her work. She serves on the board of the Alliance-International, focusing on sustainable wood initiatives, and collaborates with violin making schools worldwide to integrate environmental practices into their curricula. In addition to running her shop, she teaches, performs, and advocates for building a vibrant, sustainable musical community in her home state of Vermont.

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Bill Scott

Past President, Chair, Governance & Co-Chair, Competition Committee

Bill Scott is an award winning violin maker who got his start at Hans Weisshaar’s famed Los Angeles shop. There he performed many of the repairs that would become part of Weisshaar and Shipman’s book, “Violin Restoration.” Bill now runs Scott Studios near Minneapolis, MN, where he builds violins, violas and cellos. Bill was elected President of The VSA in 2020 and currently serves as Past President and co-chair of the Competition committee.

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Julius Van de Kopple | CAS Forum Representative

Chair, Scholarship and Grants Committee & CAS Forum

Julius (Jay) runs an upright bass shop in Midland Park, NJ, and is a performing bassist. He is chair of the CAS Forum, a group that brings together acousticians and violin makers to further musical acoustics research, and a group that resulted from the merger of the Catgut Acoustical Society and the VSA in 2004.