Meet the Members of the ‘All Things Strings Community’

Monica Hesse

Monica Hesse, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, had always regretted quitting the violin after a year when she was 12 years old, so she picked up the instrument again at age 42. But then scoliosis prevented her from advancing on that instrument, so she decided to try out the cello. “I felt that I was born to play it!” she says.

Hesse enjoys performing and is practicing Christmas songs to play at a couple of coffee shops this season. She’s also a very active member of the All Things Strings Community and participates in discussions on a range of topics, from learning to play scales to smiling during performances. To find out what other discussions Hesse is weighing in on, visit her profile.  

Benedikt Brydern

Benedikt Brydern, of Santa Monica, California, began playing the violin when he was six years old and, despite the times when he practiced soccer more than music, has never stopped. He’s now a professional musician and composer. “I love the music I perform,” he says, “and the audience loves the music they hear. It’s one of the best relationships you can have.”

Brandon MacDougall

Brandon MacDougall is a violin maker in Ojai, California. He learned the art of woodworking at a young age and has always loved music and vintage instruments. He says that becoming a stringed-instrument maker was a logical step. MacDougall’s current projects include carving violin tops out of western red cedar wood and applying varnish to two new violins. 

“I love the fact that musicians, vendors, and luthiers can freely talk about their products, show their techniques, and explain terminology on complex subjects,” MacDougall says about the All Things Strings Community.

See pictures of MacDougall’s unique violins here.