Hugh has always been interested in just about everything. From car mechanics to philosophy, codes, cooking, and camping. It came as no surprise to Hugh that he should leave an interesting job helping to negotiate climate change treaties to learn how to make violins.
 
Hugh’s approach to making new instruments is influenced by his background as a cellist, philosopher and environmentalist. As a player himself, he strives to create instruments that are responsive to the varied demands of the musician. His past studies as a philosopher bring a rigorous analytical framework to his continual quest to make better instruments. Through his work as an environmentalist, Hugh developed a heartfelt appreciation of wood, its beauty and functionality. He also came to understand the power of a beautiful object, in this case a beautiful instrument, to inspire a musician to reach higher levels of expression and performance.