At last week’s international competition at the Violin Society of America‘s annual convention, another Northfielder achieved Hors Concours status. (The dictionary definition of hors concours: "of an artist, exhibitor, etc., excluded from competing; without equal; unrivalled; literally: out of the competition.")
The Society grants Hors Concours status "to a maker who has been awarded Gold Medals in three different VSA Competitions."
This year, Northfield bowmaker Matthew Wehling won another gold medal, thus achieving Hors Concours status. He joins Northfield violin maker David Folland who achieved Hors Concours status back in 1996.
The StarTribune profiled Matt Wehling back in 2006 in an article titled Music, wrapped in a bow. MPR profiled him in 2003 in a piece titled The art of bow making.
Few metropolitan areas have even one person at this level of craftsmanship. Northfield now has two.
Nfld Patch: World-Class Bowmaker Plies His Time-Intensive Trade in Northfield
Another satisfied “customer” is Andreea Een who has a bow named Matt and a viola named Dave, both of which she played exquisitely at the Way Park concert at the UCC last Saturday!