Montgomery Violins is a respected violin shop in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, serving musicians across the nation.
We offer a thoughtfully curated selection of fine historic and contemporary instruments, chosen for sound quality, playability and character, for both professionals and dedicated students.
Our workshop provides expert restoration and maintenance for violins, violas, cellos, and their bows. Each setup is crafted to meet the highest professional standards—whether for modern or period performance.
John Montgomery has worked as an instrument maker and restorer for more than 40 years. John received a Thomas Watson Fellowship to study in France in 1977 prior to attending the Violinmaking School of America in Salt Lake City, Utah and went on to apprentice with William Monical in New York City. In 1983 he founded John Montgomery, Inc. in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Respected for his restoration of fine instruments, Montgomery is a consultant and advisor to the collections of classical stringed instruments at the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. John has served as a judge for violinmaking competitions, as faculty in workshops and is a frequent lecturer and panelist. He is co-author of the book The American Violin. Montgomery’s instruments after the works of Goffriller, Stradivari, Seraphin, Amati and Guarneri are played in major symphonies across the United States. John is a member of the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers and the Violin Society of America and has served on the boards of both organizations.
Outside of work John enjoys music, hiking, paddling and most importantly his three grandsons.
Dustin Fagg graduated from the Violin Making School of America in 2015 and has worked in Raleigh for ten years. We’re thrilled to have him as part of our team at Montgomery Violins. Dustin is a talented craftsman with a fine hand and sensibility for bow work and the restoration of violins, violas, cellos. An award-winning violin maker, Dustin has made instruments in the styles of the Italian masters Guadagnini, Bergonzi, and Stradivari and attended the VSA’s Oberlin Violin Makers Restoration Workshop in 2018. He has also been known to step up to the plate to transform a cello bow into a lightsaber for a musician playing in the North Carolina Symphony’s Star Wars pops concert!
Outside the shop, Dustin enjoys rock climbing, sailing, gaming, and travel with his wife and young family.
We are delighted to welcome Ed Augustin, the newest member of our team. A graduate of the Violin Making Program at the North Bennet Street School in Boston, Ed honed his craft building instruments inspired by the work of Antonio Stradivari—a passion that continues to engage him. A meticulous craftsman with an eye for detail, Ed brings both precision and care to his work.
A lifelong amateur violinist with a deep love for classical music, Ed has been exploring the vibrant concert scene in the Raleigh area since his arrival in early fall. Beyond his musical world, he enjoys movies, reading fiction, and spending time outdoors, finding inspiration in both art and nature alike.
Freda Kerr Thornton has worked as our receptionist and bookkeeper since 1992. Her knowledge of the shop’s inventory is extensive. Friendly and responsive, she is eager to assist with all of our customers’ needs.
Freda's interest in the arts includes a love of dance. She’s a member of Aloha Kanaka O Hula Halau and a performer of Polynesian dance.