Growing up in a family of guitar makers, Joshia was thirteen when she built her first guitar in 1992. Joshia primarily learnt from her father, Sergei de Jonge, and assisted teaching in his guitar-building courses, before going on to teach guitar making in her own shop with her husband, Patrick Hodgins. With over 30 years experience her guitars are a fusion of traditional and contemporary design with a minimalist aesthetic. Building a limited number of guitars a year allows her to pay close attention to detail. While volume is important, quality of tone is imperative. With every instrument she crafts she strives to achieve a full, pure tone that inspires and compliments each player. Joshia guitars are strung with Augustine Strings.

Sergei de Jonge has been building guitars since 1970, leaving teachers college to become Jean Larrivee’s first apprentice before striking out on his own. For over 50 years his goal has been instruments of the highest caliber with no compromise in aesthetics, structure or tone, built to serve the unique demands of the player. These days he enjoys sharing what he’s learnt with his students – teaching guitar building courses. Sergei is known for his innovative spirit, and pushing the boundaries of whats possible on the guitar. He builds with great passion and loves what he does!

Linda Manzer has been designing and building world-class flattop and archtop acoustic guitars since 1974 and she studied with master luthiers Jean Claude Larrivée and the late James D’Aquisto. Linda builds flattop, archtop and harp guitars plus her creative journey has given birth to many cutting edge innovations including in 1984, the “Wedge”, an ergonomic tapered guitar body shape originally designed for the renowned 42-stringed Pikasso guitar and available on all models since. Other interesting instruments include the sitar guitar, the fretless nylon archtop guitar and harp guitars with as many as 52 strings. Manzer collaborated with Pat Metheny on building a very special limited edition model - 30 only The Metheny Manzer Signature 6 limited Edition to celebrate her 30 year collaboration with multiple Grammy recipient Pat Metheny.Manzer's guitars have also been played by Bruce Cockburn, Gordon Lightfoot, Paul Simon, Milton Nascimento, Carlos Santana, Gary Larson, Henrik Andersen, Stephen Fearing, Marie Lynn-Hammond and Julian Lage. Her guitars have been displayed in the Smithsonian, Washington D.C.; the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Museum of Civilization, Ottawa Canada.Manzer guitars have been displayed in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, MA and are in the permanent collection in the Canadian Museum of History and most recently in the McMichael Art Collections in Kleinburg Ontario, where she led the Group of Seven Guitar Project in 2017. That project commissioned guitars from seven world-renowned Canadian guitar makers in homage to the Group of Seven painters, plus a collective guitar built to honour Tom Thomson, who painted alongside the Group of Seven in the early part of the 20th century. Most recently she has spearheaded the Sunflower Guitar for Ukraine project. A guitar she built to raise money for humanitarian aid for Ukraine that is currently journeying through the hands of musicians and artists to its eventual home in Ukraine.

Dave has a deep appreciation for fine woodworking, especially as it applies to musical instruments. He began his luthier career in the late 1980s repairing stringed instruments. He then trained under renowned luthier, Sergei de Jonge in 2000 and again, years later, completed an extensive 2+ year apprenticeship with him. Dave focuses on the art and craft of building majestic instruments, rich in detail and tone, technologically advanced and yet, so simple. For Dave, guitar building is a life-long labour of love where the learning never stops.

Michael strongly believes that a cohesive design in both structure and aesthetics is fundamental to producing exceptional instruments. His ideals for building could most succinctly be described as "clean elegance". Michael's approach to achieving these tonal and visual goals has continually developed over the course of his career but is rooted in the melding of science and instinct. With a formal education in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University and a three year apprenticeship with master luthier Sergei de Jonge, Michael strives to not simply keep these forces in balance, but use them collaboratively to create something greater than the sum of its parts.In addition to developing his own career, Michael co-founded the Mile End Guitar Coop 15 years ago amidst the bustling music and art scene of Montreal. The Mile End Guitar Coop is a shared workspace currently home to 10 luthiers focused on mutual support, openly shared knowledge, and engagement with the musical community at large with monthly shop concerts.

At the age of 11 I started playing the guitar and my interest and curiosity about how that instrument, made of wood, was built.In 2011 I moved to Canada to study under the guidance of renowned Master Luthier Sergei De Jonge. During the time spent with Sergei I had the opportunity to learn modern techniques for building steel-string and classical guitars and he taught me to look at the guitar in a different way, to understand its dynamics, the delicate balances that characterize it and on which of them intervene to achieve the desired goal.After my Canadian apprenticeship, I returned to northern Italy and opened my first workshop in Solighetto (TV). In 2021 I moved to a larger workshop in Susegana, (TV) where I build my guitars today.

Jason Kostal began his journey into guitar making in 2004 after learning the basics of lutherie from Atlanta-based luthier Kent Everett while getting his master’s degree in business administration and marketing. A guitar player since the age of 4, Jason eventually found his way into the American fingerstyle program at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. An avid guitar collector, one of Jason’s biggest frustrations was finding a guitar that was right for him and the music that he enjoyed so much. After trying many of the factory and small shop guitars available at the time, Jason eventually found his way into the realm of luthier-built instruments.After the very first day in Everrett’s shop, Jason became consumed with the desire for knowledge and understanding about the guitar despite not yet understanding where his path would take him. After finishing graduate school Jason entered the corporate world, but his passion and love of creating things never left him, but rather found him building “guitar-like objects” in a shop in his garage. Disenfranchised with the business world, Jason relocated to Phoenix, AZ and enrolled in the Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery where he learned a new approach to building that differed from what he had learned at Everett’s shop. Upon graduation he stayed on as an instructor, eventually running the acoustic guitar program. In 2008 he was offered the opportunity to apprentice under Ervin Somogyi where he stayed for three years. Returning to Arizona in the summer of 2011, Jason opened his own shop and has been working full time since then creating a few unique guitars each year that focus primarily on his own vision of what a fingerstyle guitar should sound like and feel like when played.

Driven by the pursuit of finding "the perfect sound" Zach Lefebvre's ever-evolving guitars are well-known for their rich, lush sound and huge dynamic range. Delivering a palette of tonal colours packed with impressive sustain and clarity matched with playability that makes them a joy to play. Zach's guitars are contemporary while respecting numerous traditional aspects of guitar design. TreeHouse Guitars are built to deliver a world-class sound for the discerning musician while being long-lasting, dependable tools in large stadiums, on small stages or in cozy living rooms. TreeHouse Guitars' inception was in 2012 after Zach apprenticed under the watchful eye of renowned Canadian luthier, Sergei de Jonge. A few of Zach's design details are a nod to the profound influence de Jonge has had on his work. Zach's guitars are crafted using structural and acoustic engineering principals, all in an effort to reach what Zach perceives as "the perfect guitar”.

Michel Pellerin has handcrafted over 250 personally designed signature instruments to date. The potential of these instruments hold in their essence a sonic grandeur, with rich textural tones and subtle nuances. His consistency in the evolution of his guitars and harp-guitars is recognized by his mentors and now allows him to frequently exchange conceptual ideas with renowned luthiers as Mario Beauregard and Linda Manzer. Michel is definitely one of the leaders of the new generation of young guitar builders. "Michel is one of the most exciting new innovative builders in the scene. I love what he does and always keep an eye on what he comes up with" - Linda Manzer

Dontcho Ivanov is a guitar builder based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He learned to build classical and flamenco guitars in the Spanish tradition with Hugues Lefort and steel-string guitars in the Californian style with Mario Beauregard. From his background as a classical guitarist, Dontcho inherited the obsession of sound. Tone, playability, aesthetics and longevity are his main concerns. In his cozy workshop, Dontcho builds primarily Nylon and Steel string guitars. They are handcrafted with meticulous precision and care from the finest quality wood. His instruments show a remarkably high quality of acoustic response and craftsmanship.

Ottawa-based luthier Mike Sankey has been creating one-of-a-kind guitars for over 25 years. While better known for organic yet futuristic electric instruments, his work has always been informed by a deep knowledge and appreciation of historical precedent. Leveraging modern technologies such as 3d printing and computer-aided design has been a means to the end goal of making instruments that are each a totally unique expression of the luthiers’ art.

Michael Greenfield is passionate about tone. Great tone. FAT tone. Squeezing every last molecule of tone out of his guitars. Greenfield is dedicated to crafting extraordinary guitars. He continually researches the history, mechanics, dynamics and physics of the instrument to cultivate a deeper understanding of what makes it work and how he can continue to advance his guitars.Greenfield handcrafts bespoke guitars for those who wish to experience the exhilaration of playing a truly responsive instrument, fashioned to the highest standard. Each commission begins with a personal consultation. The resultant choice of model, specifications, materials and options combine to make your Greenfield Guitar a truly one-of-a-kind instrument – tailor-made, exclusively for you. Michael’s goal is to address your musical requirements and/or enhance your collection.

What inspires me,Passionate about woodworking and the fascinating complexity of acoustic guitars, I strive to deliver the best of my savoir-faire in each of my instruments.Guitar making is for me like a confession that awakens multiple emotions, nourishing me, inspiring me and accompanying me throughout the building process.The choice to work alone allows me to master all the steps necessary to create a high-end instrument imbued with a unique sound signature.I seek to produce powerful, dynamic and sensitive instruments, which are capable of transporting the musician and his audience into a sound experience rich in emotions.

Behrad started his journey into the world of musical instruments studying under the mentorship of master luthier Phill Davis while obtaining his bachelor’s degree in graphic design from OCAD University. He later studied with world-renowned luthiers Sergei de Jonge and Trevor Gore to further refine his craft. Upon finishing his degree, Behrad worked as a faculty member at OCAD University, teaching ukulele construction and introductory woodworking. Over the last few years, Behrad worked for Bill Rickard of Rickard Banjos, designing and building a line of acoustic guitars. He currently builds one-of-a-kind handcrafted guitars, selling them in North America, Europe, and Asia, as well as teaching aspiring guitar builders from his studio in Toronto, Canada.

Orla Strijker (24) is an acoustic guitar builder from the Netherlands. Back in 2019 she was an apprentice under Sergei de Jonge. When she was 13 she knew she wanted to become a guitar builder. First she built her own electric guitar at school. And soon after that she started working at the world famous guitar store ‘The Fellowship of Acoustics’, repairing guitars. It was there that she found her love for western guitars. In 2016 Sergei invited her to come to Canada to be his apprentice, which she did in 2019. And now since 2020 she has her own shop in the Netherlands where she builds and repairs guitars. Orla builds the traditional Martin style guitars, with a little bit of her own touch. In her 8 to 9 years working at the Fellowship of Acoustics, she worked on thousands of guitars, which has had an effect on the way she builds her guitars.

Mario Beauregard has been researching,developing and creating instruments from flat tops to archtops for the past 32 years. Recipient of 3 grants from le Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Quebec, which allowed him to study from the Roberto Venn school of Luthery to being the first apprentice of Ervin Somogyi and study archtop under the guidance of Taku Sakashta. Consultant in the industry from factory to independant builders. Shared and passed his knowledge and experience to apprentices ( from Canada,Japan,Italy) whom today, Mario is very proud and happy to see their careers develop succesfully. Beauregard continues to push the boundaries of creativity and functionality in order to offer the ultimate experience to the musicians. More than ever, I feel blessed and continue to enjoy this amazing journey we all share!

Fraser has always had music in his life. He took piano lessons from a young age, and at about ten years old, added formal drum lessons as well. Fast forward many years later. Life happened and full time work was a thing. But there was always this itch to play the guitar. Not just to play them, but to really understand the guitar and how they worked. The Spanish guitar was the bug, which transitioned to the Flamenco guitar.At this point in time, Fraser had been taking Flamenco guitar lessons for a while and he wanted a better guitar. Sound familiar? A chance encounter with an article in the Kitchissippi Times about a gentleman who built guitars for his family and at 92 years old was still doing it, was the epiphany that started him on his way to building guitars.Fraser built his first guitar in his basement in 2009, a Flamenco guitar. In the spring of 2010, he had the opportunity and means to take Sergei de Jonge's Guitar Making Course. As for many, Sergei's guidance and knowledge helped pave the way to building fine guitars. In 2011, the backyard detached garage was converted to the shop that has evolved to what it is today. After reading most of what has been written about building guitars he has realized an intuitive sense is a valuable asset when building a guitar based on experience from the guitars that came before.Each guitar he has made has allowed him to develop a better understanding of what makes a good Spanish guitar. He understands and accepts that no two guitars are exactly alike. That is the challenge and the excitement of building guitars and hearing them played for the first time.

Christian Piteau has been a luthier since 2021, following a 24-year career as an architectural technician. He developed a passion for designing and building custom guitars. His motivation was initiated by an introductory course on setups and maintenance offered by his luthier. He was drawn to guitar making and woodworking and he realised that a career change was in his future. He returned to school to complete a DEC in lutherie. After 3 years of studies, he graduated from the Bruand lutherie guitar school workshop at the top of the 2021 class.Due to experience from his previous field, he designs his instruments in collaboration with his clients. His goal is to inform and guide you through all aspects of your dream instrument project. He strives to advise you in choosing the appropriate materials and design to get the tone, aesthetics and playability of the instrument that you are looking for, according to the style of music you are playing.

Ted Brown has been an ardent woodworker all his life. In the early 90’s he took time off from a high-tech career and studied cabinetmaking in Ottawa, followed by a year at the prestigious College of the Redwoods Fine Woodworking Program in Fort Bragg California. After returning to the Ottawa area, Ted set up his own shop making studio furniture. A few years later he set up a beautiful 3200 square foot shop to teach fine woodworking in an old woolen mill in Almonte Ontario. For the next 5 years Ted welcomed students from Canada, USA, and beyond. By chance on a summer walk down Bank St., Ted wandered into the Folklore Center, and began a new chapter in his life. A couple of hours later, he walked out with a beautiful Larivee guitar, and the beginning of a new love for playing, and making fine guitars. Ted began making guitars, a natural extension of his fine woodworking career, and then went on to get some formal training under Canadian Master luthier Sergei de Jonge. Ted returned a few years later for more training with Sergei, and then went on to train with Master Luthier Michel Pellerin in the art of guitar finishing. Today he continues to make fine hand made guitars and teaches guitar making at Blackwood Guitar Making School located in a lovely maple forest just north of Mallorytown, Ontario.

Lutherie-Guitare Bruand workshop-school, in partnership with the Institut des métiers d’art du Cégep du Vieux-Montréal, offers a college training program in Crafts Techniques that focuses on lutherie/guitar making. This training ensures a succession of artisan luthiers specializing in plucked string instruments, mainly the guitar. During training, these future craftsmen acquire all the abilities, theoretical knowledge and manual skills that are required as a professional of luthier.