Elvedin Hodžić

Luthier

Haris Čalkić©Michelangelo foundation

A daughter's gift

Elvedin's first viola was a gift for his daughter
He devotes at least 320 hours to making an instrument
He wishes to pass on his knowledge to an apprentice

Love for his daughter, a music student, led Elvedin Hodžić to make a viola as a present for one of her birthday. From that, a love for making instruments was born, which became his passion and hobby. The 'queen of musical instruments' as he calls violins, is difficult to make because it requires no less than 320 hours of dedicated work. It took him a little over three months for the first viola. But nothing you love to do can be too hard, he says. Elvedin's instruments have so far been played by his clients – mostly artists and music enthusiasts – across Europe, North America and Asia. In the future, he hopes to start making all string instruments – not only violins and violas, but also cellos and double bass.

Interview

Haris Čalkić©Michelangelo foundation

Haris Čalkić©Michelangelo foundation

How did you learn to make violas and violins?: My teacher was Bosnian luthier Mirko Vukeljić. He taught me for about two years and in the meantime we became good friends. Mirko’s other two students with whom he worked at the same time, unfortunately didn’t continue with the craft.
How much time do you dedicate to your craft?: My day job takes up a lot of my time, but I spend all my free time in my atelier. There are days, of course, when I’m not in the mood for it and I don’t do anything for a couple of days, but I spend most of the day working on making violins, when I can.
Do you train apprentices?: Unfortunately not, but I will be retiring soon and I hope to be able to pass on what I learned to someone younger. Mirko has motivated me to teach someone else what he showed me so that the tradition of violin making continues.
What advice would you give to young luthiers?: It takes a lot of time to make an instrument and it requires precision and discipline. In the nine years that I have been practising, I have made four violas and twelve violins. But when you finish working and look at what you have created with your hands, the joy is indescribable.

Elvedin Hodžić is a master artisan: he began his career in 2013 and he started teaching in 2018