Itzel Ávila is a Mexican-Canadian violin maker established in Toronto, a participating member of the Oberlin Violin Makers Workshop (VSA), and the President of the Makers’ Forum since October 2020.
Itzel discovered the art of violin making as a teenager. She graduated with honours in violin performance from the UNAM (Mexico), and holds a Master’s degree in the same discipline from the University of Montreal. As a Violin Maker, Itzel further perfected her skills in Cremona, Italy, and San Francisco, United States, under the supervision of Francis Kuttner, as well as in Montreal, under the supervision of Michèle Ashley. She has worked at the workshops Wilder & Davis in Montreal (restoration and bows), and The Sound Post, Toronto, before establishing her own workshop in 2009.
Very active in the international violin making scene, her instruments participate regularly in exhibitions in Italy, Netherlands, Germany, Canada and the United States. Thanks to her integral formation as an interpreter and violin maker, her instruments are characterized by an ergonomic and comfortable playability, reliable responsiveness, and a clean and clear sound. She is also a photographer and mother of two kids.