Lucille Taylor: From Symphony Stage to Fiddle Shop

Lucille Taylor, pianist and violinist, is a master teacher and performer from Riverside and Pasadena, where the two studios of Achieve Music are located. She has recently performed with symphonies in the Inland Empire, Orange County, and has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra for 15 years.

Harold Sullivan Rees carved instruments until his 102nd birthday. Over his lifetime, he created 150 violins, violas, cellos, bluegrass mandolins, 5-string banjos and ukuleles from scratch as well as performing thousands of repairs for music school students and symphony players. Under the tutelage of Washington DC violin maker Herman Weaver, Rees finished his first violin in 1949. As time passed, he made many of his own carving tools as well. Even the western-style workshop where he created his instruments was constructed by Rees. His Swiss maternal ancestors, (Reichenbaughs), were themselves woodcarvers and musicians.