The Team

David Bruce Johnson

Director

Left his native Canada in 1978 with a background in craft, music and arts to further his instrument making career. He studied for three years study in Musical Instrument Technology in London in both fretted and bowed stringed instruments. David gained 5 years employment in the violin trade in Beaconsfield and Birmingham before setting up workshop of his own in 1986. After 5 years research and development, the success story of world-renowned Violectra electric violins, violas and cellos began in 1992 and designer and maker David has sold over 200 custom-made Violectras worldwide. After a diverse musical background in piano, brass and wind instruments, David plays various stringed instruments , including violin, cello, dulcimer, sitar, kora, banjo, mandolin, & guitar.

Jeremy Jackson

Shop Manager

Jeremy studied violin at the Birmingham Conservatoire and has since built a varied career as a performer, teacher, and conductor. He has taught and conducted extensively and has performed with various ensembles, including a UK tour of The Phantom of the Opera. More recently, Jez has worked as an account manager in the wholesale string instrument sector. At Moseley Violins, he brings his knowledge and experience to help musicians find the right instrument and support their playing journey.

Mike O’Neill

Senior Administrative and Shop Assistant

Native to Birmingham, Mike has an endless resource of knowledge and skills in music technology and computer engineering. He works along in the shop reception, sales, admin and giving technical advice. Mike is a seasoned band musician, playing electric bass, guitar and mandolin, and has taken to making the occasional electric mandolin and guitar. He also enjoys playing the violin.

Louis Peterson

Workshop Restorer and Repairer

Louis is a graduate of the Newark School of Violinmaking. He was attracted to violin making because he wanted to be able to create beautiful objects using refined craft skills. At the end of each day he is delighted to have used his skills and approach to ensure an instrument looks and sounds to its best. In and amongst restoration and repair work, Louis enjoys making violins and violas, displaying examples at the shop. He also takes commissions.

Christopher Snow

Workshop Restorer, Repairer and bow re-hairing

Hailing from South Staffordshire, Chris progressed from a career in telecommunications and IT management after the Covid pandemic, to re-train as a luthier at Newark's Schools of Instrument Crafts, studying both guitar and violin. Chris particularly enjoys the repair and restoration of bowed and fretted instruments. He has successfully completed the BVMA's bow re-hairing and repair course and has developed a strong passion for bow work, supported by extensive hands-on experience. He plays the guitar.

Ann Jones

Professional Advisor and Sales

Ann Jones is a professional music trainer, facilitator and performer, with 30 years' experience of working in music education. She has toured nationally and internationally as a performer, and composed for theatre shows, museums and university research projects. She trained at RCM as a violinist and violist, and RBC and Birmingham University, where she gained a BA Hons in Music and English and an MA in Music and Critical Theory.

Mimi Howson

Shop Assistant

Mimi has been a customer of Moseley Violins since she was a small child in 2008. Now she studies violin at university level and loves playing in orchestras. As a shop assistant at Moseley Violins, she enjoys helping customers find an instrument that will inspire them to play more music and hear their instrument come to life when music is being created. As well as being musical she is artistic, designing and creating the window displays at Moseley Violins.

Jeevan Lodhia

Shop Assistant

Jeevan has been a customer of the shop since he was 4 years old and still enjoys playing the violin. He particularly enjoys jazz-style music and faster-paced pieces of music. He enjoys meeting people and having the opportunity to test out a wide range of violins.

In Memory of François Bignon

1957 to 2025

Native from Laval, in the Pays de La Loire region of France, François worked for over 40 years in Birmingham in violin restoration and repair work, and bow rehairing.

Initially, at Highfield Violins, then having his own workshop at Stratford House, Digbeth before moving to the Custard Factory, once again, be working with David Bruce Johnson. Together they moved to Moseley Violins in 2008

Over the years, he built an immense knowledge of the history of violin making, but his own violin- making was particularly influenced by the charm and detail of lesser-known makers from 1850-1900. He made at least 29 violins, and we plan to create a catalogue of his work. If you own a violin made by François please do contact us.

François loved sharing his knowledge with musicians and using his finely-honed skills to ensure their instrument or bow played to its best. His natural friendliness helped put people at ease and made them feel welcome.

François enjoyed playing the double bass in a range of musical genres.

His skills, knowledge, humour and delight in all things musical will be much missed by all at Moseley Violins and the many customers who knew him.