Elsa Sissia in Claire Ryder’s studio

Ever since she was a child, Elsa has been fascinated by violin making. After ten years in the civil service, she enrolled at the National School of Violin Making in Mirecourt, in the Vosges region, in 2022, and graduated from the school in July 2025.
During her final year of training, Elsa completed several internships in Claire Ryder’s workshop and suggested to Claire that they apply together for the Savoir-Faire in Transmission Award.

For Elsa, the goal of this year-long apprenticeship with Claire is to learn techniques for restoring and repairing string quartet instruments, as the workshop is renowned for historically informed instrument making (Baroque-style instruments, instruments with gut strings, violas da gamba, etc.). Claire shares her workshop with Pascal Ruëgger, a luthier specializing in double basses, which also allows Elsa to work on restoring and assembling these instruments. 

 “Claire’s knowledge and understanding of the subject are boundless, both in terms of instrument-making techniques and her relationship with musicians.”

Elsa is settling in well at the workshop, which is helping her envision her new professional life more clearly.

“This program allows me to refine my instrument-making skills, become more independent, and develop the specific skills needed to work with musicians.”