For more reading on women in the musical instrument industry, please peruse the resources listed below. We know the list is incomplete, so please let us know if you have any suggested sources!
Books and Articles:
Abrahamsen, Valerie. “Women of Estey Organ Company: Family and Employees.” Estey Organ Museum, September 2014.
Adelson, Robert, Alain Roudier, Jenny Nex, Laure Barthel and Michel Foussard, editors. The History of the Erard Piano and Harp in Letters and Documents, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2015.
Alcorn, Allison A. “Carleen Maley Hutchins: Reconsidering the Legacy of a Luthier and Acoustician.” Journal of the American Musical Instrument Society 46 (2020): 178–223.
Bender, Shawn. “Taiko Drums and Taiko Drum Makers.” Taiko Boom: Japanese Drumming in Place and Motion, University of California Press, 2012, pp. 25–47.
Deters, Sarah. “Instruments of War: The Impact of World War II on the American Musical Instrument Industry.” Master’s Thesis. University of South Dakota, 2010.
Dudley, Kathryn Marie. Guitar Makers: The Endurance of Artisanal Values in North America. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2014.
Fein, Andy, Mikaela Marget, and Ivana Truong. “Women at the Workbench.” Fein Violins (blog), March 18, 2020.
Friesen, Michael D. “Women in American Organbuilding in the 19th Century: A Brief Survey.” The Tracker: Journal of the Organ Historical Society 61, no. 4 (Fall 2017): 13–17.
Hargrave, Roger Graham. “Seeking Mrs. Guarneri.” Strad Magazine. September 2000: 95-101.
Hebbert, Benjamin. “Some British Women in the Violin-Making World, 1550-1750.” Violins and Violinists (blog), March 8, 2021.
Kent, Marie. ‘The Piano-Industry Workforce in Mid-Victorian England: A Study of the 1881 Census’, Royal Musical Association Research Chronicle, 46, 95-158.
Kent, Marie. ‘Piano Silkers in Eighteenth-and Nineteenth-Century London (1784-1911): A Genealogical Survey’, The Galpin Society Journal 66 (2013), 71-98
Knights, Francis. “A bibliographic guide to women pioneers of the harpsichord.” Sounding Board, xviii (April 2022), pp.73-81.
Leitao Venceslau, Maria da Gloria. “The Production of Stringed Instruments and Strings in Tuscany: Insights into the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries.” Journal of the American Musical Instrument Society 45 (2019): 121–43.
Lieberman, Richard K. Steinway & Sons. New Haven ; Yale University Press, 1995.
Nex, Jenny. ‘A Strong Stomach for Strings’, (article on gut string makers in 18th-century England), The Strad, 122/1450 (February 2011), 54–60
Nex, Jenny. ‘Gut String Makers in 19th-Century London’, The Galpin Society Journal, LXV (2012), 131–60
Nex, Jenny. “Family and Gender” in The Business of Musical-Instrument Making in Early Industrial London, PhD Thesis, Goldsmiths College, University of London, 2013, 123-64.
Nex, Jenny. “Women Instrument Makers.” St. Cecilia’s Hall, University of Edinburgh, August 27, 2021, video.
Nex, Jenny. “Women in the Musical Instrument Trade in London, 1750-1810.” In Instrumental Music and the Industrial Revolution: International Conference Proceedings, Cremona, 1-3 July 2006, edited by Roberto Illiano and Luca Sala. Bologna: Ut Orpheus Edizioni, 2009.
Otterstedt, Annette. “Female Musical Instrument Making: An Impossibility?.” FemBio. October 14, 2023.
Ruiz, Marisa, and Sara Guasteví. “Women Luthiers, A Brief History.” Museu de la Música (blog), March 10, 2021.
Sewell, Amanda. Wendy Carlos: A Biography. New York: Oxford University Press, 2020.
Thomas, John. Kalamazoo Gals: A Story of Extraordinary Women & Gibson’s “Banner” Guitars of WWII. Franklin, TN: American History Press, 2012.
The Etude Music Magazine. “Women As Organ Builders.” November 1903.
Whitehead, Lance & Jenny Nex. ‘The Insurance of Musical London and the Sun Fire Office 1710–1779’, The Galpin Society Journal, LXVII (2014), 181–216, with transcribed policies available on the Galpin Society website, GSJ (galpinsociety.org)
Whitney, Quincy. American Luthier: Carleen Hutchins, The Art and Science of the Violin. University Press of New England, 2016.
Wosnitzka, Susanne. “Music HERstory: Nannette Streicher (1769-1833).” DONNE365 (blog), January 16, 2020.
News and Podcast Archive (Newest to Oldest):
Steinway & Sons. “Queen of Parts: Prenta Ljucovic Reigns as Steinway’s Only Female Case-Maker – Steinway & Sons.”
Dale, Elizabeth. “Instrument Craftswoman Continues Legacy Inspired by Woman Who Made Beethoven’s Pianos.” NAMM Playback Blog. n.d.
“Seven Vermont Luthiers Who Push the Boundaries of Instrument Making.” Seven Days. May 10, 2023.
Breen, Amanda. “A 400-Year-Old Family Business Remains the ‘Gold Standard’ in Its Category — Its First Women Leaders Reveal the Secret.” Entrepreneur. March 8, 2023.
Benning, Eric. “Three Female Bowmakers Break Through the Pernambuco Ceiling.” Medium. March 9, 2023.
Kemal, Bêrîvan, “Every musical instrument has a soul” says Irani female instrument maker Meryem Surnamher, Jinha Womens News Agency. July 5, 2022.
Wright, Emily. “The ‘Celebrating Women Luthiers’ Exhibit Reveals a More Diverse Violin Trade Than Existed in the Past.” Strings Magazine. April 22, 2022.
Low, Tara. “L. Ellis Hahn of L.E.H. Guitars: Luthier Extraordinaire.” Guitar Girl Magazine. April 21, 2022.
“Lillian Burkhart.” Flutes Unscripted. YouTube. December 2, 2021.
Rodríguez Freire, Joaquín. “De Tandil a Los Ángeles: la luthier Argentina [Guadalupe Pasty] cuyos instrumentos llegaron a los Guns N’ Roses.” Ámbito. September 25, 2021.
“Martin Guitars and the Female Touch.” Fanny’s House of Music. July 30, 2021.
Gurschler, Susanne. “Dubsek family business: Handmade brass instruments.” Innsbruck. March 1, 2021.
Sidi, Leila. “Luthiery and Reinvention: The Interdependence of TunaTone Instruments.” She Shreds, February 17, 2021.
Bradbury, Adam. “Women in Lutherie: How Female Builders Are Rewriting the Rulebook and Pioneering New Guitar Design.” Guitarist Magazine, July 27, 2020.
Long-Higgins, Hannah. “How Making a Violin Brought These Two Together.” BBC News, April 27, 2020.
Minch, Mamie. “Scene Report: 50 Women Builders and Repairers in the Guitar Industry.” She Shreds Media (blog), March 12, 2020.
Schemmer, Cynthia. “Women-Owned Businesses in the Guitar Industry to Support This Holiday Shopping Season.” She Shreds Media (blog), November 27, 2019.
Morales, Patricia. “Pilar Campos Núñez, luthier.” La Tercera. August 26, 2019.
Schemmer, Cynthia. “Martin Guitars and a Woman’s Influence on the ‘First American Guitar.’” She Shreds, August 7, 2019.
“Liz Aponte: Drum-Maker, Drummer, Teacher.” Tom Tom Magazine, May 2019.
Clancy, Sean. “Making Music: Transplant from Washington State Builds Old-Time Guitars in Northwest Arkansas.” Arkansas Online, April 28, 2019.
Govind, Ranjani. “Meet Ashwathamma, the lone woman who makes percussion instruments [in Bengalaru, India],” The Hindu, March 2019.
Tyson, Alex. “Meet the Women Driving PRS Guitars Forward.” She Shreds. February 11, 2019.
“Is Sexism Endemic in the World of Lutherie?” The Strad, October 23, 2018.
Low, Tara. “Inside the Industry: How the Women of C. F. Martin & Company Are Changing Guitar Manufacturing.” Guitar Girl Magazine, September 26, 2018.
Lily, Auburn. “Handmade Native American Elk Skin Drums by Yolanda Spirit Drums.” Earth Magick (blog), May 4, 2018.
“Father-Daughter Accordion-Making Duo Bring Cajun Craftsmanship to New Orlean’s Jazzfest.” WWNO: New Orleans Public Radio. May 3, 2018.
Dimoff, Anna. “Nicole Alosinac Breathes New Life into Old String Instruments.” CBC, April 1, 2018.
USAid. “Imzad, the Music of Sahel.” Medium, March 7, 2018.
Thiagarajan, Kamala. “Making this Instrument is ‘Like Giving Birth.’” A Beautiful Perspective, August 3, 2017.
Kelly, Ash. “Young Vancouver Guitar Maker’s Niche Work Shines at International Show.” CBC. June 24, 2017.
Kurucz, John. “Custom Made: Vancouver Has More Female Luthiers than Anywhere Else in Canada.” Vancouver Is Awesome, May 22, 2017.
Reyna, Fabi. “‘Queen of Tone’ Abigail Ybarra Talks Fender History and 57 Years of Pickup Winding.” She Shreds Magazine, February 23, 2017.
Sullivan, Patrick. “The Luthiers Behind the Royal Academy of Music Museum.” Strings Magazine (blog), January 6, 2017.
Glasser, Amanda. “10 Women Luthiers You Should Know,” She Shreds Magazine, December 27, 2016.
Blore, Ann. “Devoted Builder of Harpsichords [Mars McMillan].” Sydney Morning Herald. December 21, 2016.
Moses, Desiré. “A Father-Daughter Luthier Duo Builds Souls Into Guitars.” NPR, October 4, 2016.
Reyna, Fabi. “The Kalamazoo Gals: The Secret Behind Gibson’s WWII Guitars.” She Shreds, August 17, 2016.
Batiche, Farouk. “Home of the Imzad in Tamanrasset, Southern Algeria-In Pictures.” The Guardian, January 29, 2016.
“Women in the Musical Instruments Industry: An Interview with Ingrid Linn.” KVR Audio, November 12, 2014.
Racine, Hope. “Gourd Banjos Traced to African Slave Trade: A Conversation with Banjo Maker Dr. Dena Jennings.” The Free Lance-Star. March 30, 2014.
France, Pauline. “Front and Center: Guitar Builder & Singer-Songwriter, Meredith Coloma.”The Women’s International Music Network,” May 6, 2013.
“893. The First Female Percussion Instrument Maker in the Caribbean.” 1000 Awesome Things About Curaçao. October 2, 2012.
Whitmore, Laura B. “Guitar Girl’d: Esther Marron, Fender Mexico’s Employee No. 1.” Guitar World (blog), August 7, 2012.
Cummings, Susan. “Building Tools That Can Make a Crowd Dance.” The New York Times, November 1, 2008.
David, Stephen. “Karnataka village with a veena-making tradition struggles to subsist on the craft.” India Daily. August 31, 1996.
Podcasts (newest to oldest):
“Women in Lutherie: The Movement.” Omo Podcast with Rosie DeLoach. September 22, 2021.
“Iris Carr: Doing More, With Less.” Omo Podcast with Rosie DeLoach and Jerry Lynn, May 19, 2021.
“Cajun Flavor with Anya Burgess.” Omo Podcast with Rosie DeLoach and Christopher Jacoby, April 14, 2021.
“Rosie Heydenrych (Turnstone Guitar Company).” Luthier on Luthier with Michael Bashkin, December 23, 2020.
“Why Aren’t More Women and BIPOC Doing This?” Get Offset Podcast with Emily Harris and Andrew Renard. December 8, 2020.
“Linda Manzer.” High Action Podcast: New West Guitar Group, November 18, 2020.
“Female Guitar Techs Who Don’t Fret The Small Stuff.” Backstage Chats, September 24, 2020.
“That Baroque Life” Omo Podcast with Rosie DeLoach, Christopher Jacoby, and Jerry Lynn. May 6, 2020.
“Kathy Wingert.” Luthier on Luthier with Michael Bashkin, February 28, 2020.
“VSA Past and Present with Marylin Wallin.” Omo Podcast with Rosie DeLoach, Christopher Jacoby, and Jerry Lynn, September 18, 2019.
“The Next Generation with Sofia Vettori.” Omo Podcast with Rosie DeLoach and Jerry Lynn August 7, 2019.
“Women at the Bench.” Omo Podcast with Rosie DeLoach and Christopher Jacoby. May 15, 2019.
“Leila Sidi from TunaTone Instruments.” The Making: Guitar Building and Design Podcast with Florian Schneider and Nicolai Schorr, March 28, 2018.
