“Instrument building & Restoration is what we do best”
Kevin Chapin spends the majority of his time building new instruments for sale and for custom order at his workshop in New Haven, Connecticut, along the Quinnipiac River. K.H. Chapin Fine Violins also has a repair and restoration service department, a variety of fine bowed string instruments available for sale in our showroom, as well as providing rentals of such instruments for the community.
Kevin completed his degree in violin making from the Chicago School of Violin Making. He worked for reputable violin Master makers: Petio Kostov, Michael Becker, Kenneth Stein, and William Whedbee. In 2014, he relocated from Chicago to Connecticut, and founded his own business, K.H. Chapin Fine Violins, LLC, in order to focus on constructing his own instruments, conducting intense restorations on antique instruments, and dealing in fine violins, violas, and cellos with his clientele.
Kevin has a trusted assistant, Maximilian Hamel, who conducts masterful restoration work. Kevin is also assisted by his wife, Alissa Chapin, who primarily handles client relations and customer service, as well as clerical and administrative assistance.
Kevin and Alissa have two young sons, Roland and Bowie, who are often found at their father’s feet in the workshop. The entire family consider themselves to be ambassadors of their much beloved city of New Haven. Kevin and his wife are active and dedicated members of the Unitarian Society of New Haven. Recreationally, they are members of the Lancraft Fife and Drum Corps, performing Field Music in patriotic parades and performances in the community. Kevin is a member of the Violin Society of America (VSA), that hosts trade conventions for violin makers, and he has won awards for instrument construction in competitions. Kevin is also a member of The Second Company Governor’s Footguard, an honorary military unit that was founded in 1775, and serves as an Honor Guard for the Governor of the state of Connecticut. Kevin very much enjoys organic gardening, shepherding his flock of chickens, and sharing music with others.