Posted Nov. 24,2002 
Craftsman opens up music shop 
Instrument maker finds treasure in Neenah 

by Maureen Wallenfang 
Post-Crescent staff writer 

NEENAH — In an age defined by the Internet and technology, "old-world" is a largely forgotten descriptive phrase.  But on the second floor of a downtown Neenah building, an old-world craftsman recently set up shop to make violins, violas and cellos by hand. 

Master maker Peter Yang, who was born in Taiwan, schooled in Chicago and apprenticed in Europe with German and French masters, opened a workshop at 121½ W. Wisconsin Ave. where he hopes to flourish. 

Here, in this nearly century-old building, he and his apprentices go back in time, not forward, as they make and restore rare string instruments. 

The studio is a branch location for Yang, whose main workshop is in Wilmette, Ill. He's planning on spending several days a week here, doing his careful, meticulous work on delicate string instruments. 

Over the past 19 years, he has worked with violins made by Stradivarius, Guarneri del Gesu, Guadagnini and others going back to the 17th century.  He has serviced instruments for Isaac Stern, Pincas Zukerman, Joshua Bell and Yo-Yo Ma. 

Lawrence University in Appleton is the primary reason the 40-year-old is here. Yang has been coming up from Wilmette to adjust and repair the fine instruments owned by faculty and students on a regular basis for the past four years. 

"I worked on faculty instruments first," Yang said. "I started with the conservatory, then the academy. I was invited up to give talks to students on what I can do to help their playing. If the instrument isn't set up properly, they can't play certain things." 

Customers brought violins, violas and cellos to him in Chicago, and he made the trek up U.S. 41 several times a year, taking instruments back down to his Wilmette workshop. But it wasn't an easy way to do business. Shuttling back and forth took a toll on him. 

"I wasn't here with my tools," he said. "I'd bring the work back to Chicago, and that got tiring. I wasn't set up for resale." 

When he decided to make a more permanent commitment to the community, Yang did so knowing there was a market for his skills. 

"They're used to getting high-quality service," he said. "There's a demand here." 

While he'll still travel between the two workshops, having the duplicate shop in Neenah means Yang can not only spend time making instruments here, he can also more accurately adjust local instruments in the correct climate. 

"Appleton is dry, perhaps 20 percent humidity. Chicago right now could be 35 to 40 percent." 

When he decided to set up in the Fox Cities, he looked at downtown Appleton, but then fell in love with the quaint charm and the abundance of light in the Neenah location. 

"I didn't know anything about Neenah," he said. "I've driven by for four years. It's a hidden treasure." 

The spot was found by chance. Yang's local business manager, Deborah Zehr, struck up a                     conversation with a Neenah storeowner as she was scouting for space. 

The storeowner knew an artist was vacating the spot above Holt's Diamond Jewelry, near retailers Knox Furniture Gallery and Erika's. 

The nearly century-old building was perfect: Its high ceilings, dark wood floors, large windows and etched glass doors had a step-back-in-time feel that would blend seamlessly with the business of crafting and restoring fine musical instruments. 

"I want to be up here to be quiet," said Yang, who will meet there with clients by appointment. While he is quick to say he doesn't want to critique other shops here, he notes, "At a certain level, the students and teachers want more. I'm catering to that level. I was invited to come up here." 

"It's nice to not have to go down to Chicago for this level of service," said Matthew Michelic, an associate professor and viola teacher in Lawrence's conservatory. 

"Peter has had high-level training at Jacques Francais in New York and at the Chicago School of Violin Making. He has had a lot of experience with people who have the most expensive and sought-after instruments. There's clearly a clientele here that appreciates the specialized training Peter has had," Michelic said. 

While a number of fine instrument specialists have traveled up to the Fox Cities, "he's the first person who has shown a commitment and established a shop here," Michelic said. "Instruments need to be adjusted frequently. There has been an opportunity here for a long time for someone to do what he's doing. He recognized that." 

"He has filled the void for higher-end instruments," said Laura Kenney, who teaches string methods at Lawrence's conservatory and conducts private cello lessons at the Lawrence Academy of Music. She had been driving to Chicago six times a year to get adjustments done on her own cello. 

Yang's business is threefold. Half of his time is spent making instruments that he sells to both individuals and dealers. Yang's violins, violas and cellos, fetch from $10,000 to $22,000. 

"They're beautifully made and have a robust, healthy sound," Michelic commented. 

The second part of his business is in restoration and balancing of rare instruments. He can totally dissect a damaged instrument, if necessary. 

Yang also makes adjustments, like a mechanic tuning up an automobile, to enhance an instrument's sound and response. 

"He's done some major work on my cello," said Kenney. "He did a new set up, which includes a new bridge, sound post and adjustments. He slightly changed the angle of the neck as well. My cello sounded wonderful and responded better." 

Thirdly, Yang functions as a dealer. He'll find quality instruments for people wanting to stay within a specific price range, though that price range tends to be on the higher end. He can find good fraction sizes, meaning child-size violins, starting at $500 to $1,000. For an adult, he'll start in the $1,000 to $2,000 range. 

"I have direct contact with the makers," Yang said. "I pick one out of every 10. When you buy through the Internet, you're getting the other nine." 

Even though dealing isn't his main business, it's still an important service, along with appraising and evaluating instruments. He's done appraisal work for Sotheby's. 

"I started by repairing instruments and built my reputation that way. It's not 'You can get a good deal from him,'" he said. 

Whether Yang succeeds here or not will depend on word of mouth spreading among musicians about his work. 
"If I were a businessman, I probably wouldn't be here. But I'm a craftsman," he said. 

Yang felt it wasn't a gamble, however, because being here will pay off in ways beyond business. 

During the summer, his wife and two young daughters will join him in Neenah. 

"That's part of my family values," Yang said. "It's the environment. I'll close my shop in Wilmette in the summers. It's my dream to go to my Wisconsin studio." 

Maureen Wallenfang can be reached at 920-993-1000, ext. 287, or by e-mail at mwallenfang@postcrescent.com