An fine 16 ¼" viola by Benoit Bonten, made in 2023 on a personal model. It has a wonderfully powerful and open tone, with a robust feeling and ease of response. The viola was exhibited in the Inaugural Bay Fine Strings Contemporary Violin Makers Exhibition and Concert April 29th 2023, and a copy of the published catalog will be included with this viola.
About Benoit Bonten
Benoit Bonten was born in Verviers, Belgium in 1983.
Passionate about music and woodworking since childhood, he made his firsts steps in the instrumentmaking world in Argentina (Buenos Aires) while staying there as a student in 2001-2002. There, he made a first guitar under the supervision of the master guitarmaker Omar Nigrelli.
Back in Europe, he started studying  at the National School of Lutherie in Mirecourt (France), from which he graduated in 2006.   
He then began working as an assistant in different workshops in Brussels, Maastricht and Barcelona.
In 2008 he became Gonzalo Bayolo's assistant in Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle, Spain.
Today member of the GLAAF,  he lives in Aveyron, near Conques (France) and works in his own workshop where he devotes his time principally to making fine violas and cellos.