Peter Seman peter@semanviolins.com

Peter grew up on Long Island, New York. He majored in fine arts at Buffalo State College and played professionally with bluegrass and Texas swing bands for 10 years in Buffalo before moving to Chicago to attend the Chicago School of Violin Making, from which he graduated in 1988.

Peter apprenticed with a number of string shops in the Chicago area before opening his own shop in 1989. He is a member of the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers and the Violin Society of America.

Peter has made over 80 instruments and is currently working on violins patterned after Stradivari and Guarneri, and cellos and violas patterned after Stradivari.

Susan Hammermann sue@semanviolins.com

Born on the south side of Chicago, Susan grew up in northwest Indiana. She started violin at age 6, and switched to cello at 10. She graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy, the University of Chicago and the Chicago School of Violin Making. After working at several Chicago area violin shops, she began working at Seman Violins in 1996. When she is not repairing stringed instruments, Susan enjoys playing her cello, walking her dog and running.

Hee Young Kang heeyoung@semanviolins.com

Hee Young was born and grew up in Korea, where he played drums in the national police band. He moved to the United States in 1991 and graduated from the Chicago School of Violin Making in 1995. He joined Seman Violins in 1993.

Hee Young is currently building violins patterned after Stradivari and Guarneri, which are available at the shop.

Kate Rickenbacker

Kate Rickenbacker grew up in Lexington, Kentucky. At the age of two she began taking violin lessons with Craig Timmerman. As an adolescent she enjoyed woodworking projects with her dad, and playing with the Rickenbacker string quartet. After studying music education for several years at the University of Kentucky, she came to the Chicago School of Violin Making. She graduated in the spring of 2006, and is now doing repair as well as making.

Noah Scott noah@semanviolins.com

Noah Scott graduated from the Chicago School of Violin Making in April of 2006. Since graduation, he has been with Seman Violins where he handles sales and repairs, along with making life difficult for the administrative assistant. Noah plays old time banjo and fiddle in a string band on the north side of Chicago and is working on finding time to make violins while also spending time with his new family. He looks forward to the day when his new daughter Abigail is old enough to pick up an instrument.

Jeremy Benjamin Koons jeremy@semanviolins.com

Jeremy Benjamin Koons was born in Sarasota, Florida where he picked up the violin around age 3, at the insistence of his parents who were professionally trained. The Koons family eventually moved to central Illinois where they were actively teaching and playing music. When Jeremy and his younger brother, a cellist, became of age, the family formed a string quartet that played locally in weddings and at parties.

Jeremy went on to major in violin performance in the Conservatory of Music at Wheaton College, but eventually left to pursue his true calling at the Chicago School of Violin Making. After graduating in 2004, Jeremy gained experience working in several area shops before joining Seman Violins in the fall of 2007.

Jeremy still enjoys playing classical music and currently performs with the Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra. Jeremy's violins are available at the shop - he primarily enjoys the Guarneri model.