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Born on 26 November 1960 in Bern, Switzerland, son of master violin maker Willi Joseph Maechler and Heidi Maechler, nee Kilchenmann
1977 - 1981 Apprenticeship at the
International School of Violin Making (IPIALL)
in Cremona, Italy, Diploma
1979 - 1980 Bow-making apprenticeship
in Cremona, Diploma
1981 – 1984 Advanced training in father’s
workshop in Bern
1983 “Louis Spohr” Competition for Violin Making
in Kassel, Germany, Award for a cello
1984 – 1994 Own workshop in Verona, Italy
1995 Master’s Examination in Brienz, Switzerland
May, 1995 Opening of workshop for violin and
bow making in Speyer am Rhein, Germany
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Urs W. Maechler: "I discovered my passion for instrument making at an early age,
coming in contact with it daily in my father's workshop. At the age of 10 I had already built
my "own" violarre, with 3 strings of course, and a lot of nails-I knew it would hold together from my knowledge of soapbox carts."
Father Willi Maechler found Cremona to be the ideal location for his son's apprenticeship. In this beautiful city where the greatest violin makers in history had developed their craft, son
Urs learnt not only the art of violin making in the best Italian tradition, but also the Italian language.
Urs W. Maechler: "And so I arrived in Cremona at the age of 17, and undertook my studies
with the greatest of interest. After 1 ½ years I was able to return home during the holidays and put my new knowledge to work. At that time I built my first violins, cellos and violas.
"In 1980 I attended courses offered by master bow maker Giovanni Lucchi. To this day, I'm fascinated by this type of craftsmanship and make my own hand-crafted bows for all stringed instruments.
"At the end of my studies in Cremona, I began a 2 ½ - year period of advanced training in my father's workshop and during this time I made the decision to work independently . I always loved the picturesque
city of Verona with its Arena, and its tale of Romeo and Juliet; I had often spent week-ends there during my studies in Cremona, and it seemed to be the best possible place for me to set up my own workshop. In my
next 10 years there, I enjoyed great success, working together with the best Italian musicians and orchestras. My work was highly appreciated by the Italians and I had customers over the entire country.
"After 7 happy and successful years in Verona, I was nonetheless convinced that I did not wish to stay in
Italy forever, and decided to seek a new home. After my marriage, my wife Christiane and I naturally had a strong desire to build our future life in Germany. We went looking together and soon found a wonderful new
home in Speyer. We quickly fell in love with Speyer, in Latin SPIRA, and were determined to settle there.
"I passed my Master's Examination in Switzerland and was then able to open up my own atelier in the
Maximilianstrasse Nr 92 in Speyer on 1 May, 1994. Five years later, the Maechler family moved with their violins to a newly renovated home with attached workshop in the Santa-Klara-Kloster-Weg Nr 45, and
Speyer remains the city of our dreams."
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