Thomas Goering "Pajeot" viola bow, 68.3g, silver-mounted, Topeka, Kansas | Metzler Violins

Currently based in Topeka, Kansas, bow maker Thomas Goering (b. 1957) has been making and repairing instruments and bows for over four decades, beginning with guitars in the 1970s. In 1989, Goering developed a passion for bow making while working in the Montana workshop of Mark Hollinger. Goering continued his training under William Salchow and David Samuels before joining Jerry Pasewicz’s prestigious Raleigh, North Carolina workshop. In 2005, Goering opened his own workshop in Topeka.

Goering’s craftsmanship has been recognized by multiple instrument making authorities. In 1998 and 2012, his bows were honored with Certificates of Merit by the Violin Society of America, and he was featured in violinist Cristian Fatu’s video, “The Making of a Bow.” In addition to making and repairing bows in his Topeka workshop, Goering actively contributes to his industry through the Violin Society of America’s summer workshops at Oberlin College.