“Hi! After looking through site after site of small violas and accommodations for small players I stumbled upon your website. I was curious as to what your options were for making a 14-14.5 inch viola? I’m a very petite violist (about 5’1 and 88 lbs) and recently have had trouble in the left hand and keeping a comfortable hand frame. It got to the point of injury, and being a conservatory student at the Manhattan School of Music, I definitely don’t have time for injury. My current 15 inch viola underwent some alterations to help the left hand, and it did, but now the instrument is absolutely awful sounding and has numerous problems associated with the alterations put in.

“If you could tell me if you would even have the time to make me a viola in the near future, what the options are for little violists with even smaller hands, and about how much something like this would cost, I’d be extremely grateful.

“Thank you so so so much! I just started crying in the middle of class I’m so happy. I’ll get started with all the details you asked as soon as I get out of class and I’ll give you a call!

“Just wanted to give you an update. Magnolia is great, everyone melts at her sound. Could never tell I’m playing a small viola! The viola sounds absolutely incredible, it really is everything that I wanted sound-wise out of it. I recorded the first twenty minutes of Steel Magnolia’s life.

“She WANTED to play the minute she had her strings on. I can’t believe it. Most instruments have to get "played in" for at least a few weeks before they settle in.

“Hi there, my semester is finally over, and I’m in desperate need of a break. Our viola is doing great, and handling the obscene weather like a champion! I passed my jury, so that’s always good! They were all very curious about my instrument (so I heard from Karen), people are in love with it... myself included, obviously.”

--Shannon Elliott

About Anne

Articles about Anne

Read An American Master Violinmkaker at Work, an article from Forbes Magazine about Anne.

Read The Art of Violin Making—A modern luthier crafts her own tradition, an article from Strings Magazine about Anne.

Thanks to NMPBS and the creators of the video, Tara Walch - Producer, and Antony Lostetter - Director of Photography

Collaborate with Anne

Be a part of the creation of your ideal instrument which reflects your own personal temperament, tonal desires, physical needs and artistic temperament. Partnering with musicians classical or pop, amateur or professional is Anne's forte.

What if You Could Play on an Instrument With No Limitations, Custom Built for You?

Imagine discussing your needs and goals with the maker of your instrument. Your violin, viola or cello will be carefully made by hand, not in a shop assembly line. Every detail will be quality controlled by one dedicated artist-craftsman, Anne Cole, who will strive for tonal superiority in every touch.

Custom Made in the Great Southwest

In Anne's shop there is no such instrument as model A,B, or C. In fact, no two instruments are identical. You are a unique individual, so you have your own idea of your "dream machine". Talk to Anne about your desires; she has a masters degree in cello performance and has continued to concertize throughout her career as a maker. She understands the needs of musicians.

Exceptional Wood Inside and Out

This philosophy goes into every single sliver that is put into place from the overall choice of top and back woods to the linings, bass bar and soundpost inside. Each detail is small, but the cumulative effect is a lightness of touch, hairtrigger response and an unsurpassed dynamic range.

Meeting the Demands of a Modern Musician

A modern instrument by Anne Cole is designed to fill the concert hall of today with sound. Her instruments incorporate the empirical principles of the past with the new demands of the present.

Taking Time for Quality

Actually taking time to produce a quality product is not a secret, just a lost secret. That's one thing Anne has learned from the old masters which she has incorporated into her style. Work in her shop is done by hand which takes TIME; even the varnish spends TIME aging in the New Mexico climate.

Visual Beauty

Anne also spends hours making each instrument unique, not only in model but in varnish color and artistic themes on scrolls and interiors. Her instruments can be recognized at a glance by even an untrained eye.

Years of Experience and Reliability

A lifetime of making instruments has honed Anne's skills for the fifty years she has been in the professional market. You may call or email Anne directly. Early on in 1979 Anne won recognition at the Arizona Violin Makers Competition where she was awarded first prize for her Salomon cello. The next year she received a total of seven awards in Canada from the Violin Makers Association of British Columbia, including first prize in the category of string quartet construction. In this division, a maker's quartet was played publicly and compared to all other entries for their combined sound quality, fineness of construction and physical beauty. Currently, her instruments are being played around the world from the National String Quartet in Vietnam, to Singapore, then Germany and back across the Atlantic to the Cleveland Orchestra, CIM and the Manhattan School.

“Obviously I have never tried a Stradivarius, but the magical sound that comes out of your cellos, especially the Liebestod, makes me wonder how wonderful it will sound in 200-300 years! I also wonder what are the secrets behind your wonderful instruments, is it the wood, design craftmanship or the varnish? You are the Stradivarius of the USA! Superb craftsmanship, gorgeous sound, and ease of playing.”

--Adrian Chan