Born to Erlangen in 1952 Married, with three children Apprenticeship in Mittenwald. Journeyman with Hill & Sons, London, under the direction of Günther Kramer, Hermann G. Wörz and Josef Kantuscher. Passed the examinations as a master violin maker in 1979 Since 1981 own workshops in Freising and Munich. Took part in numerous competitions, receiving many awards, e.g. in Mittenwald, Wiesbaden and Manchester. Participation in master seminars in Riva and Ascona with Jürgen von Stietencron, later succeeding him as head of these courses. Chairman of the Examination Board of the Trade Guild. 2006 Juror in the 11th Stradivari Triennial/intern. violinmaking competition, Cremona Guest membership of the group “Klanggestalten”, Berlin. Member of the Association of German Violin Makers His son Martin, also a violin maker, worked as an apprentice in Cremona, Italy, with Carlson, Cacciatori & Neumann and since 2007 in Vienna as workshop manager with Marcel Richters.