Alan Coggins is a violin maker, writer and photographer who lives in the Blue Mountains, near Sydney, Australia. He has written on various aspects of the violin and is a regular contributor to The Strad magazine... a selection of his articles can be viewed in the articles section. Alan is currently working on a book about Australian stringed instrument makers and has compiled an online Directory of Australian Violin and Bow Makers containing information for around 500 Australian makers, past and present. He would be interested in hearing from anyone who has information to contribute to this project, or who may have an Australian-made violin or bow.
Latest article: Blind Faith (published in The Strad, February 2007) - What's in a label? Would a Strad sound as sweet by any other name? Blind tastings, popular in the wine world, offer a method of objective evaluation, but the string world doesn't believe in such tests.
NEW: Alan is now providing a specialised photographic service for your violin, viola or cello. Please refer to the photography page for more details.
Alan's partner, Adele Beardsmore, is an English violin maker and repairer who graduated from the Newark School of Violin Making in 1987 and was awarded the Ralph Oakden Cup for outstanding achievement. She worked in various locations in England and The Netherlands before moving to Australia in 1994. Adele Beardsmore has over twenty years experience in violin making and restoration and is now regarded as one of the finest makers of new instruments in Australia.