History
Highlights of the workshop’s life since its creation in 1986
2024
Renewal of the Living Heritage Company label
2023
Maria joins the workshop as office manager
2022
The workshop moves 20 minutes north of Montpellier, at the foot of the Pic Saint Loup mountain
2020
Frederic, Octave and Lucie become associates in « Chaudière Violins »
2017
Publication of the article “The Armingaud” Del Gesù from 1732 – The Strad Magazine, November
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Octave joins the workshop as luthier
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Frederic Chaudiere becomes an expert at the Court of Appeal of Montpellier
2016
The workshop celebrates its 30th anniversary
2015
The culinary show « Les Carnets de Julie » broadcasted in our workshop – France 3
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2014
« They make Stradivariuses in Montpellier »
2013
Obtaining of the Living Heritage Company label
2011
Organization of Montpellier’s luthier festival
2010
Jury’s and public’s prize at the international competition « Violoncelle en Seine »
in Paris for one of Frédéric’s cello.
2009
Lucie joins the workshop to share its management
2008
Organisation of the exhibition « Stradivarius-Montpellier 2008 »
Partners of the event : Fabre Museum in Montpellier, Radio France festival, Actes Sud editions, Royal Academy of London, Chi-Mei Foundation of Taiwan, Dextra Musica in Oslo.
15 Stradivarius are exhibited, the catalog is co-written with Peter Biddulph. 20 instruments from Antonio Stradivari are played on stage for the opening concert of the Radio France festival, with Augustin Dumay as soloist.
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2006
“The Kruse” Antonio Stradivari from 1721 – The Strad Magazine, June
2005
Lucie joins the Montpellier International Music Academy « Académie Internationale de Musique de Montpellier » (A.I.M.M.) as manager and developer
2002
“The Alard” Del Gesù from 1742 – The Strad Magazine, June
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Creation of the Montpellier International Music Academy « Académie Internationale de Musique de Montpellier » (A.I.M.M.)
with 4 luthiers from Montpellier: Wolfram Neureither, Nicolas Gilles, Yann Poulain and Baptiste Juguera.
Every summer the AIMM organized violin, viola, cello and chamber music master classes with eminent teachers of the Menuhin School, Juilliard, Curtis, etc.
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2000
The workshop moves to the Hotel Magnol
a private mansion of the famous botanist Pierre Magnol.
Discover the hotel Magnol
1998
Copy of the « Alard » Guarnerius Del Gesù with François Denis and Eric Lourme
Collaborative work on a copy of the “Alard” violin, Guarnerius Del Gesù 1742, at the request of the Paris Music Museum.
Musée de la Musique de Paris Website
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1996
Creation of Trans’Art
with Hubert Nyssen (founder of the Actes Sud editions) and Jacques Prat (super-soloist of the Montpellier National Orchestra). The association organized monthly multidisciplinary artistic events in Montpellier and around
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Frederic meets Ruggiero Ricci, for whom he makes two violins.
1992
First prize in the “Maurice Vieux” sound competition in Paris for a new viola
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Frederic meets Norbert Brainin, makes for him a violin after Del Gesù, then, at his request, a copy of his famous “Gibson” Stradivarius of 1715
1990
The workshop moves rue de la Merci.
1989
First prize in the “Maurice Vieux” sound competition in Paris for a viola
1986
Frederic Chaudière created his workshop place Ste Anne in the historical center of Montpellier.
Hotel Magnol
“I was 13 when I walked into the Hotel Magnol for the first time. I thought it was some kind of princess castle, a palace, abandoned to his fate.
With time and a lot of love, my family restored this house to its former glory and brought it back to life.
The violin-making workshop occupied the first floor but the large building offered a wide range of possibilities. Concerts, costume parties, dinners, rehearsals, album recording, fashion show, meetings, settings, screenings, exhibitions, guest apartments, press conferences and guided tours are some of the events that we produced in the building .
All these incredible moments transformed the Hotel Magnol and, for two decades, the place became one of Montpellier’s cultural hotspots.
Today, our workshop is under pine trees in the northern part of the town, but we continue our work, enriched by the experiences of the past.”
Lucie
