SAVE LEV'S VIOLIN

by Helena Attlee Ramsay in Presteigne, Wales, United Kingdom

SAVE LEV'S VIOLIN
We did it
On 8th July 2021 we successfully raised £10,100 with 207 supporters in 41 days

Please help us restore Lev's violin so that its extraordinary sound can live on for future generations

by Helena Attlee Ramsay in Presteigne, Wales, United Kingdom

A voice powerful enough to open pores and unbuckle joints

The incredible voice of this violin and the story spooling from its battered body inspired me to write a book about it. Lev’s Violin, An Italian Adventure reached many thousands of listeners when it was broadcast as BBC Radio 4’s ‘Book of the Week’.

But Lev’s violin was already celebrated by musicians and audiences by the time  Lev Atlas smuggled it out of Russia in the 1980s. 

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And now it is renowned in this country for playing both classical music and the breath-taking, genre-bending world folk that its current owner  Greg Lawson performs with Moishe's Bagel.

Broken!

But now this precious violin is broken. Its neck has collapsed and its fragile body needs thorough restoration.  It has been lying in its case for a year or more, unplayable until it is restored.

A new chapter

With help from Martin Swan Violins and Anette Fajardo, we want to restore Lev's violin and give its voice back to the world. By contributing to our campaign you will help it to live on for another hundred years or so. If we reach our target we will give as many people as possible the chance to experience the glorious sound of Lev's violin by recording a new CD. And then the violin will be offered on loan to exceptional students seeking out their own voices as musicians, and to other players with projects especially suited to its particular tone. Any additional funds will be passed to Music for All, a UK charity dedicated to helping people of all ages and from all backgrounds get involved in music making.

Rewards

This project offers rewards in return for your donation. Please select a reward below.

£10 or more

Online concert

Join Greg Lawson and Lev Atlas at an online concert as they celebrate the restoration of Lev's violin with a rich mix of classical and world music.

£25 or more

A copy of "Lev's Violin, An Italian Adventure"

Receive a signed copy of Helena Attlee's book and read the extraordinary story of Lev's violin for yourself.

£25 or more

Masterclass with Lev Atlas and Greg Lawson

Work through this brand new masterclass in your own time via YouTube, taking this opportunity to explore and strengthen your unique musical voice and learn some new melodies.

£30 or more

New album from Greg Lawson and Lev's violin

A new album or download celebrating the restoration of Lev's violin, featuring Greg Lawson, special guests and a mix of classical and world music.

£1,000 or more

3 of 5 claimed

Lev's violin at home

Invite Greg Lawson and Lev's violin into your own home for a private concert encompassing everything from Bach to tango, and klezmer to solo sonatas.

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