The Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School Music Department were thrilled by the arrival of a violin donated by South African instrument maker, Mr Murray Kuun. Mr Kuun, a furniture designer and maker for 50 years, said that he had always considered making a violin in his youth but thought it would not be possible. “After a visit to Michelangelo’s David in the 1990s, I was inspired and just happened to pass a little violin maker’s shop in the streets of Florence. He spoke no English and my Italian was weak but, between us, we decided I should try. I bought a book and built one over a period of a year. The donated violin is one of the early violins I made, probably the third or fourth.”

He added that thanks must go to Greg Pentopoulos for the bow and shoulder rest, and to Hannes Jacobs for the case. GHS is privileged to be in the possession of an instrument with such an amazing story. A big  thank you to Murray Kuun and Heather Kuun for making it all possible.

Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School Music learners, Noa Apelgren (L) and Luyanda Cele with the violin.