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
Coming from a military family, Stephanie 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 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 Support
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 2 grandchildren fill much of Robert's leisure time.
Maria Medlow - Sales/ Customer Support
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! ***
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 4 ½ years under the guidance of the late Joseph Jackson, a well-respected luthier from Courtney, BC. Following her formal training, she has worked intermittently with V.A. Hill Fine Strings Ltd. for approximately 5 years.
Although enjoying all aspects of her trade, restoration and varnish repair are her two most accomplished areas.
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 where he is a member of the volunteer fire department.
James Hill - Technical Support
James' career in computer repair began in elementary school at age 10 as he hung out in the computer lab after school assisting the teacher with the school's computers. At age 14 he was hired as a junior technician by his school to help maintain their network. His password accessibility into their system was second only to that of the prinicipal. One of James' proudest moments came when he was requested to show his teachers how to use their own computers. He continued offering his technical support until his graduation from high school.
James earned his Network Technician certificates and degree from SAIT and is currently employed by the Calgary Board of Education as a level 2 Technical Support Specialist. As Vickie's son, James' part in the family business is to select, maintain, and network all of V.A. Hill Fine Strings Ltd.'s computers and programs.
Josefine Eberhard - Bookkeeping and Accounts
Josefine was born and raised in Europe but now makes Canada her home. She attended
the University of Calgary, earning her Bachelor of Commerce degree. While Josefine made Calgary her home for many years, she now works between Calgary and Kelowna.
Josefine has formed her own bookkeeping and tax preparation company.
She loves to work with numbers and does a great job of keeping the books in shape.