Tong Ming Xi (mingxi@ambercraftviolins.com) was born in Singapore, a small city-state south of Peninsular Malaysia in South East Asia.

Ming Xi has been playing the violin since the age of 10. Upon graduation from university, Ming Xi decided to apply his mechanical engineering expertise to the ebullient science of sound. To date, he has made violins and established himself as a fine repairer and restorer of stringed instruments.

The 25 July 2003 issue of Life! Section in The Straits Times described Ming Xi as "the country’s modern day musical Geppetto." (Read the article here)

Seeing music lovers get the most of what their instruments can achieve is the driving force behind Ming Xi’s commitment to his customers across the region. He aspires to see more students and musicians alike appreciating the importance of properly set-up and well-maintained stringed instruments in their pursuit of music.

Ming Xi works on the philosophy of constant upgrading of his skills to help musicians bring out the best in their instruments.



CREDENTIALS


JUNE - JULY 2005

• Worked for Isaac Salchow of William Salchow & Sons Limited in New York City (USA)
• Attended both Violin and Bow Repair and Restoration workshops in The Banff Centre (Canada)
• Received Singapore’s National Arts Council Professional Skills Development Fund to attend the workshops

AUGUST 2004

• Completed the Violin Repair and Restoration Workshop held at The Banff Centre (Canada) conducted by world-renowned makers and restorers Horacio Piñeiro (USA), Jonathan Woolston (UK) and Quentin Playfair (Canada)
• Attended the Bow Repair and Restoration Workshop led by William Salchow (USA) and David Tamblyn (Canada).

SINCE 2004

• Luthier-in-residence for 'The Rin Collection' by Mr Rin Kei Mei (Singapore)
• Maintains the entire collection of over 300 Violins, Violas and Cellos including 4 Antonio Stradivarius and 5 Guernarius Violins.
• Responsible for those collections currently being used by students of the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (Singapore) and Shanghai Conservatory of Music (China)