Bertrand Galen

Bertrand Galen learnt his craft at the French national school of violin making in Mirecourt, the Ecole Nationale de Lutherie, which he entered at the age of fifteen. He worked as assistant to Michel Gladieux in Paris for five years before coming to Ireland in 1999, opening his Cork City workshop in 2000.

Bertrand was co-commissioned by CIT Cork School of Music to create two quartets of string instruments which are each year played by the school’s top musicians. His instruments are played in numerous countries and by musicians such as Rebecca Jones, Aiveen Gallagher, David Kenny and Sinéad O’Halloran. In addition to making and repairing instruments, Bertrand is an active cellist.