Itzel Avila

Itzel Ávila is a Mexican-Canadian violin maker established in Toronto, a participating
member of the Oberlin Violin Makers Workshop (VSA), and the President of the
Makers’ Forum since October 2020.
Itzel discovered the art of violin making as a teenager. She graduated with honours
in violin performance from the UNAM (Mexico), and holds a Master’s degree in the
same discipline from the University of Montreal. As a Violin Maker, Itzel further
perfected her skills in Cremona, Italy, and San Francisco, United States, under the
supervision of Francis Kuttner, as well as in Montreal, under the supervision of
Michèle Ashley. She has worked at the workshops Wilder & Davis in Montreal
(restauration and bows), and The Sound Post, Toronto, before establishing her own
workshop in 2009.
Very active in the international violin making scene, her instruments participate
regularly in exhibitions in Italy, Netherlands, Germany, Canada and the United
States. Thanks to her integral formation as an interpreter and violin maker, her
instruments are characterized by an ergonomic and comfortable playability, reliable
responsiveness, and a clean and clear sound. She is also a photographer and
mother of two kids.