Today we’d like to introduce you to Texas Violin Shop
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
The Texas Violin Shop is a family run business owned and operated by husband and wife Estefan and Samantha Cortez. Estefan and Samantha both grew up in New York and fell in love while working together at a boutique violin shop. Together they share a passion for music, love for the violin industry, and pursued dreams to create a community of players around each other.
Estefan earned a Bachelors Degree in Music Education at the College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY. Estefan is an accomplished cellist who also has an extensive knowledge and experience in instrument identification, sales of fine bowed stringed instruments and educating future players.
Samantha Cortez began her studies as a violin maker, bow makers and instrument restorer at just 14 years old. She has studied under some of the best master luthier in this country and attended the Violin Making School of America to hone her skills in violin and bow making. Samantha has also taught several instrument workshops to teachers, students and future luthiers on repairs, construction and general maintenance of bowed stringed instruments.
Together Estefan and Samantha established the Texas Violin Shop to share their expertise with the community. The Texas Violin Shop recognizes the need musicians have for a quality and affordable instrument. Our mission is to provide our community with the education and means necessary to succeed in a players musical goals.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
In June 2021, Estefan and Samantha made a bold decision to leave their jobs, journeyed across the country to San Antonio, and embarked on a new adventure by opening the Texas Violin Shop. Like any new venture, we have encountered growing pains but have learned to adapt and evolve to better serve the musical community. Overall, the experience has been quite positive. Estefan and Samantha have received tremendous support from both their peers in the violin industry and their local community.
We are thrilled to announce that in the coming months, the Texas Violin Shop will be expanding into a larger retail space, which will help us achieve our business goals. In the near future, we will create opportunities for musicians to collaborate in ensembles and chamber groups, as well as host a variety of events, educational workshops, and performances on a regular basis.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Samantha Cortez discovered her passion for crafting violins (luthier) at the young age of 14. She proudly stands as the only female violin maker in the San Antonio region. Currently, she has her personally crafted violin, viola, and cello available for sale and trial at the Texas Violin Shop. This shop is unique in San Antonio as it actively produces new instruments. We offer a comprehensive range of services, including sales, rentals, lessons, and repairs for bowed string instruments.
In this specialized field, we prioritize educating our clients about the distinctions between instruments, the tonewoods utilized, and how to enhance their sound. This ensures that our clients can make informed choices when purchasing or restoring an instrument or bow.
Samantha frequently visits schools to conduct educational workshops on instrument maintenance, teaching young musicians how to care for their instruments and bows.
We are deeply passionate about our craft and take joy in studying tangible pieces of history, including instruments and bows from the 1700s, 1800s, and 1900s.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
In early 2021, as we began to solidify our plans to resign from our jobs and relocate to the San Antonio area to establish the Texas Violin Shop, many of our peers expressed admiration for our ambitions and the bold leap we were taking. We had a deep belief in ourselves and an instinct that we could thrive as business owners if we dedicated ourselves to this new journey. Estefan and Samantha form a dynamic duo in the industry, backed by years of expertise and experience. Estefan concentrates on the educational aspect of the business, while Samantha specializes in repairs and crafting new instruments.
Pricing:
- N/A
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.texasviolinshop.com
- Instagram: @texasviolinshop
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/texasviolinshop
