Vickie Hill - Owner
Vickie's violin career began in 1985 by assisting in violin and bow repairs being done in the family's workshop located in their backyard garage. As time and her knowledge progressed, she became involved in customer service, bookkeeping, and inventory control. She eventually found herself giving up a 23 year insurance career to take full-time interest in the violin trade. What started out as a hobby to Vickie became V.A. Hill Fine Strings Ltd., Calgary's largest and best-selection violin shop.
Vickie's extensive knowledge of violin construction and restoration, along with her dedication to precise set-up and repair technique, provides the basis for her demands of excellence in shop standards. With this knowledge, Vickie has been able to hand-pick only the highest of skilled professionals that share or exceed her vision.
Vickie enjoys hobbycraft, gardening, and the wild critters in her backyard.
Stephanie Hill - Sales Manager
Stephanie comes from a military family and calls Victoria, BC her hometown. Throughout junior and senior high school, Stephanie was involved in various music endeavors involving clarinet, percussion ensemble and vocal jazz. She served as Concert Mistress for the final two years of high school. Stephanie earned her Legal Secretary Honours Diploma with a 4.0 G.P.A., and has taken two years of a psychology degree which she hopes to complete in the future. Stephanie has taken charge of numerous managerial tasks at our shop, including bookkeeping and the maintenance of our website.
Her administrative and customer service skills, along with her music background, make her a valuable asset to V.A. Hill Fine Strings Ltd. It is the intent that when Vickie retires (a few years from now), the business will remain in the family and Stephanie, her daughter-in-law, will take over as General Manager.
Robert Dalgliesh - Sales/ Customer Service
Robert's background comes via 32 years of property assessment with the City of Calgary. This has provided him extensive experience in dealing with the public and an understanding of the importance of providing excellence in customer service. With retirement came the time to pursue his passion for playing the fiddle, and what better location than a violin shop? A self-taught fiddle player, Robert has attended numerous fiddle camps and workshops and plays most fiddle styles heard in the Calgary area, with a repertoire of Irish, Bluegrass, American and Canadian fiddle tunes.
As a longtime customer of V.A. Hill Fine Strings Ltd., he has a good understanding of the instruments for sale and the services we provide. He enjoys helping players of all genres and skill levels pick out the violin, bow or accessory that works best.
Gardening, trips to Mexico, bluegrass jams and his grandchildren fill much of Robert's leisure time.
Maria Medlow - Sales/ Customer Service
After completing her studies at the University of Calgary, Maria acquired her affiliation with the Royal Conservatory of Toronto in both Piano and Violin. Maria has performed throughout Canada, the United States, and Europe. As a prominent educator, clinician, and adjudicator, Maria continues to make a valuable and ongoing contribution to cultural life in Alberta.
Maria's longtime dream of opening a music studio became a reality in 2007 when she opened up the Crescendo School of Music. Maria has been with V.A. Hill Fine Strings Ltd. since 2003.
Her patience, knowledge and love of the violin are assets every customer cannot help but appreciate.
*** May 2010- Congratulations, Maria, on your beautiful baby boy! ***
Elyssa Lingwood - Sales/ Customer Service
Elyssa began playing the violin at age 6 and has been studying and performing violin for the last 13 years. Elyssa teaches students of all levels of study, specializing in novice students. She teaches at various Calgary studios and homes, as well as locations in Acme. Elyssa has also been involved in coaching the Bow Valley Fiddlers for the past year.
Elyssa plays in multiple groups and ensembles, and performs freelance at weddings as well as corporate and private functions. Elyssa looks forward to the release of a CD of her original Celtic Rock pieces in the near future.
Elyssa enjoys working at V.A. Hill Fine Strings Ltd., as she loves meeting with and helping fellow musicians. She loves teaching new violin students in hopes that they will continue with the instrument as a hobby or career.
Elyssa's passion for many different genres of violin and fiddle music is shared with the customers at V.A. Hill Fine Strings Ltd.
Cathy Billington - Sales/ Customer Service
Cathy began playing the violin at age 4 and has been passionate about music ever since. Completing her Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Calgary, Cathy now teaches violin from her private studio, instructing students of all ages and all levels of study.
Having studied with Edmond Agopian, John Lowry, and Alla Magid, Cathy was a member of both the Bow Valley Fiddlers and the Calgary Youth Orchestra. As a freelance performer in multiple groups and ensembles, Cathy is in demand for weddings and various corporate and private functions. In addition to the violin, she plays the cello, viola, saxophone and mandolin, and enjoys many genres of music from bluegrass, jazz, Celtic, and folk to classical repertoire.
Cathy enjoys working at V.A. Hill Fine Strings Ltd., as she loves finding the perfect instrument for each new player.
Natanael Sasaki - Luthier
Nat began playing violin at age 3, and by age 9 was enrolled at the university level of violin study at Sibelius Academy for gifted children in Helsinki, Finland. For the next 11 years, in addition to playing as a soloist, he also played in various chamber groups and professional orchestras. Natanael has instructed violin students ranging from Suzuki to advanced levels. When his focus turned to the construction and repair of violins, Natanael attended the prestigious Newark School of Violin Making in England where he earned his diploma in making and restoration. He also received the diploma from Charles Beare of J & A Beare of London, England. Natanael completed the bow making and restoration course presented by master bow maker Jan Kudanowski at the Cambridge Violin Workshop.
Since graduating, Natanael has served as an independent luthier in Finland to Kuopio Conservatory of Music and its associated symphony, and has also freelanced to numerous clients of major orchestras in England.
We here at V.A. Hill Fine Strings Ltd. are proud to have Natanael as a team member. His repairs and knowledge of the violin and other string instruments are exceptional in every respect.
In his spare time, Natanael enjoys archery and fishing.
Jennifer Jamieson - Luthier
Jennifer apprenticed for 4 ½ years under the guidance of the late Joseph Jackson, a well-respected luthier from Courtenay, BC. Following her formal training, she has worked intermittently with V.A. Hill Fine Strings Ltd. for approximately 5 years.
Although she enjoys all aspects of her trade, restoration and varnish repair are her two most accomplished areas. Jennifer is a true artist with a paint brush!
Bert Jackson - Bow Maker
Robert (also known as Bert) is the main bow man at V.A. Hill Fine Strings Ltd. Bert’s background includes studies at Victoria Conservatory with award-winning bow maker Michael Vann, and at Claremont College of Los Angeles with award-winning bow maker Lynn Hannings. Bert has also completed advanced bow repair and restoration workshops at Oberlin College, Ohio with Rodney Mohr, David Orlin, and Jerry Pasewicz. He has recently presented his own quartet of bows in competition at the VSA in Portland, Oregon. Several bows that Bert has made are currently for sale in our shop.
Bert is a collector of luthier-related materials and has an extensive collection of reference books and specialized tools concerning the making and restoration of fine bows and violins.
Bert lives in the small community of Acme, Alberta.
