Cedar Park - Far Northwest Austin Edition | August 2024

Business

BY AMANDA CUTSHALL

From left: Lori Faerber-Lacoletti and Brieann Chapple are the mother-daughter duo behind Austin Strings.

Faerber-Lacoletti began working to become a luthier in 1996 and opened Austin Strings in spring 2001.

Michelle Hedden joined the Austin Strings team in 2020 with a knack for customized varnishing.

PHOTOS COURTESY AUSTIN STRINGS

Since 2001, Lori Faerber-Lacoletti and her daugh- ter Brieann Chapple have curated Austin Strings to provide high-quality, one-of-a-kind service spe- cializing in orchestral stringed instrument repairs, restorations, rentals and lessons for musicians of all ages and skill levels—no strings attached. Then Both masters of their craft, Faerber-Lacoletti and Chapple are classically trained to play, restore and repair a range of bowed stringed instruments, including the violin, viola, cello and bass. Faerber-Lacoletti began working to become a luthier—French for someone who works on stringed instruments—in 1996 and opened Austin Strings in spring 2001. Chapple said the early days were slow, but she and Faerber-Lacoletti used the downtime to rene their skills on a variety of instruments. At age 2, Chapple began her musical career with violin lessons and eventually transitioned to the cello. Now In 2020, Michelle Hedden joined the team with a knack for customized varnishing. Mother-daughter duo’s passion leads to Austin Strings music shop

“They’ve been working on bowed string instruments for almost 15 years here in Austin,” Chapple said. “They studied both repair and violin varnishing, and have a bachelor’s degree in painting, so their touch-ups and color work on instruments are excellent.” Chapple said she enjoys hand-dyeing bow hairs fun colors and always has rainbow-colored hair on hand. “We like to take time with people,” Chapple said. “Not everything is a quick x, and each individual musician is unique.” In addition to repairs and restorations, the luthiers at Austin Strings oer instrument rentals. “Our rental program is geared to each individual; we’ll help you pick out your own instrument, bow and case,” Chapple said. Both in-person and virtual private music lessons are also available at Austin Strings. “Our teachers set their own rates and do their own scheduling, but we can talk with you about who would be the best t,” Chapple said. Austin Strings also has a school orchestral repair program tailored to music educators with busy schedules. “We do all repairs, rehairs and restorations at our shop, and we pick up and deliver the instruments based on their schedule,” Chapple said. In their own words “We genuinely love what we do and are dedi- cated to helping each and every person be success- ful in their musical journey,” Chapple said.

The Austin Strings team has oered their services to the area for nearly 25 years.

Austin Strings oers orchestral stringed instrument repairs, restorations and more.

A N D E R S O N M I

183

BALCONES CLUB DR.

13276 Research Blvd., Ste. 201, Austin www.austinstrings.com

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