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Hristo Tchechmedjiev was born and raised in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. At an early age, he showed
an affinity for music. Not so much playing the notes, but in forging them. "something inside myself," he tried to explain
(excerpts from an interview with Bob Sylvia of THE SACRAMENTO BEE, February, 1994) in his still fledgling English "A feeling
to work with the wood."
At 14, he entered a noted violinmaking school in Bulgaria. For the next five years, Tchechmedjiev
became adept at crafting the entire family of stringed instruments. He served an apprenticeship in a violin-making company
and in 1957 opened his own shop at home. Later, in 1970, he named his business Orpheus Violin House.
Hristo became very prolific, making violins, violas, cellos, bass, guitars, mandolins, bows, professional instruments, students
instruments--everything imaginable that had strings on it.
In Bulgaria, it was becoming nearly impossible to get
crucial materials like ebony and costly resins and to work in the way of the artist. So, he decided to move to a place where
he could be free to work the way he needed. Hristo chose the United States. He found his chance on a 1982 visit to Cremona,
Italy, where his violin, viola and cello had won medals and a Diploma from the International Competition for Luthiers, "Antonio
Stradivari" in 1979.
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Hristo Tchechmedjiev
In 1983, Hristo Tchechmedjiev arrived in San Francisco from
Italy. The next few years were difficult. During this period, he concentrated on violins, violas and cellos, perfecting the
acoustical techniques he practices today. It was in Oakland California in 1985 that he founded his business, Orpheus
Violin House, in the USA. In 1987, he moved Orpheus Violin House, USA to Sacramento California. In the
year 2000, his talented nephew, Yuriy Hristev Tchechmedjiev, joined him in Sacramento. In 2003, Hristo moved to Arizona, establishing
an additional branch, Orpheus Violin House Southwest. Yuriy continues the Sacramento and Bulgarian branches.
For
many years, Hristo has been quietly perfecting sound producing secrets, gradually adding the human voice qualities of the
opera singers to his instruments. Today, the sound of his instruments (and the instruments he gives new voices), rivals the
Bel Canto sound of the old masters. We now refer you to Our Specialty page for details.
Our Specialty - Bel Canto Sound
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