Luthiers sans Frontières visit Antigua to train instrument repairers

The aim was to provide some of the skills required to maintain the islands’ instruments. There are few stringed instruments there, and those that fall into disrepair are taken out of service, severely limiting the possibilities of musicians and students. The ultimate goal is to establish a permanent workshop with paid staff that will become a resource for all musicians in the West Indies.

The makers were invited by the UK’s High Commissioner in Antigua, Karen-Mae Hill, and spent two weeks showing the volunteers some of the most common repairs and adjustments. Many of the instruments they were working with were donated, including 100 guitars that were sent from the UK. Based in a workshop in the Antigua Barbuda Institute of Continuing Education (ABICE), in the island’s capital, St John’s, Graves and Walker trained students, musicians and teachers, using a combination of demonstrations and hand-outs. They also took out tools, strings and materials that have stayed on the island, which will be used in supporting any continuing repair work.

He said of the project: ‘Rita and I both felt that we achieved a good grounding for the students and also the Orchestra Board members who saw how difficult this kind of work is. We both hope that we can return to work with a small group of these students, once the issue of a permanent workshop has been resolved. We will stay in touch with the students, and will email information sheets through to them soon.

We also have to thank the Antiguans for their (legendary) hospitality! From the bottles of rum left in our rooms to watching the Calypso competition (which finished at 3am!) and some brilliant swims at some of the 365 beaches, it was amazing.’