David Van Zandt is a professional violin maker who works with the traditional methods, materials, and forms of the master violin makers of the 17th and 18th centuries. After graduating from the Violin Making School in Salt Lake City in 1983, Van Zandt worked with historical instruments in a New York City violin shop, developing his skills in repair and restoration. Van Zandt returned home to Seattle in 1987 and set up his own shop making and selling violins and violas. In 2022, he moved to Portland, Oregon and established a new studio where he continues to build instruments and study violin making techniques as of 2024.

This photo shows David Van Zandt in his Ballard shop with a cello. In addition to making modern style instruments, Van Zandt makes instruments designed for playing early music in period style. He also restores to their original state 17th and 18th century instruments that had been altered to fit modern styles.

This photo was taken when the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers was in Seattle for its first annual meeting in 1997. Seattle was chosen because the Pacific Northwest had become a center for the making of violins, violas and cellos and bows.

Caption information source: "Meeting the maker - today's string instruments show their masters' touch," by R.M. Campbell, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, April 12, 1997, page B1.
Caption information source: David Van Zandt's website at https://www.vanzandtviolins.com/about/