Founder / Workshop

Fred Carpenter started violin lessons at 7, and after 10 years of classical study made the move to fiddle playing. He spent the next few years studying fiddlers like Kenny Baker, Vassar Clement, and Byron Berline, to name a few. Fred also travelled across the country placing well in several National fiddling contests. In 1980 Fred moved to California to join the Tony Rice Unit, touring and recording for the next three years.

While in California, Fred served as an apprentice for four years at Loveland Violin Shop, where he learned the proper methods of set up, repair, and bow work. Fred left California in 1985, played fiddle for 2 years with The Dillards, and moved to Nashville in 1987. Over the next 4 years Fred toured with several artists including Emmylou Harris, Ronnie Milsap, Suzi Bogguss, Paul Overstreet, George Strait, and for the last 20 years, Kathy Mattea. As the founder of The Violin Shop and an owner for 30 years, Fred now enjoys *not* being an owner, allowing much more time to play music and play this those Grandkids!