Who is Sean Peak?

[Oblivian]

I occasionally come across violas made by someone named "Sean Peak" supposedly from Chicago. Living in Chicago, I've never even heard of him? His instruments seem to be Tertis models, somewhat crudely done. Does anyone know if this is a real person or just someone sticking an American label into a factory instrument?

[violinnewb]

Sean Peak?  Do you perhaps mean Jean Pique?  If so, there is a C. Jean Pique violin made in the workshops of William Lee Harris in Chicago.  Might be a trade name?  Not too sure.

[devaraja42]

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[Oblivian]

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[StanY]

I'm curious about this too, but I had the idea that it may be something Bill Weaver is doing - he mentions these as to-the-trade on his site.

The Jay Haide cellos are great (my daughter has had more than one) but I've never heard one of their violas that I've loved.

[Joe Wiese]

Could be wrong person but,  In the Hilliard Ohio (Columbus) area there was a fellow by the name of Sichuan Peak who built primarily violas.  I heard from a friend of his son, that he sent them to Chicago to be varnished where they were sold.  I am not sure through what outlet.  I have not heard anything locally about him, nor did I ever find a website.  I believe he has moved but not sure where to.  Could be the same person, or not.

[Oblivian]

On 3/13/2019 at 5:25 PM, StanY said:

I'm curious about this too, but I had the idea that it may be something Bill Weaver is doing - he mentions these as to-the-trade on his site.

The Jay Haide cellos are great (my daughter has had more than one) but I've never heard one of their violas that I've loved.

I asked Potters Violins about it and the response:

"To the best of our knowledge, they’re produced for us from the Violin House of Weaver for the past ten years or so" 

[devaraja42]

deleted

[The Violin Beautiful]

Sichan Peak, also known as Sean Peak, is a real maker. He went to the CSVM and worked along with Tetsuo Matsuda at William Harris Lee a long time ago. He doesn’t advertise, as he has a steady demand for his violas already. I’m not sure if he has indeed moved but he’s still making violas for the Violin House of Weaver that are advertised on Weaver’s website. 

[Oblivian]

1 hour ago, The Violin Beautiful said:

Sichan Peak, also known as Sean Peak, is a real maker. He went to the CSVM and worked along with Tetsuo Matsuda at William Harris Lee a long time ago. He doesn’t advertise, as he has a steady demand for his violas already. I’m not sure if he has indeed moved but he’s still making violas for the Violin House of Weaver that are advertised on Weaver’s website. 

Thanks for clearing this up!

[The Violin Beautiful]

4 minutes ago, JRyn said:

Thanks for clearing this up!

Glad I could help!

[Dmitri Yevstifeev]

I’ve played on one of these since 2008(new). Mine is a monster 17" copy of Matteo Gorfriller. Has served me well through conservatory and beyond, though I have played on some others that I haven’t liked as much. I have known at least 2 very high level musicians who play on these as well. They sound very, very good for the price. Can be difficult to play, due to the size of mine but the sound is massive, and dark. These can be great instruments in the right hands.

[Michael Darnton]

On 3/13/2019 at 7:12 PM, Joe Wiese said:

Could be wrong person but,  In the Hilliard Ohio (Columbus) area there was a fellow by the name of Sichuan Peak who built primarily violas.  I heard from a friend of his son, that he sent them to Chicago to be varnished where they were sold.  I am not sure through what outlet.  I have not heard anything locally about him, nor did I ever find a website.  I believe he has moved but not sure where to.  Could be the same person, or not.

Yes, you have it. When I was at WH Lee Bill wanted to promote one of the smarter guys on the factory line into an individual maker. He was looking for a more mainstream violin name (Asian violins weren't really a thing at that point yet) and I suggested the French-sounding C. Jean Pique name for his individual work. So he's a real person, and Sichuan is the real person behind the name.  He did not attend the CVSM: he was a very adept at driven student at Bill Lee's, a fine maker already, and the CVSM would have been a definite step down for him. I don't know the Sean Peak name, but it seems likely that this is another iteration of the same person, for Weavers. The pix I can find online resemble one of the WH Lee models (that I internally call their "dinner plate" model--nearly as wide as it is long, and kind of round. :-)  Vanna So is another person from the WH Lee shop with a similar history  who makes/made instruments that are very similar to Matsudas in style--he was Tetsuo's assistant for many years.

[The Violin Beautiful]

When Sean Peak visited the shop a couple weeks ago to drop off his latest batch of violas, I took the opportunity to talk with him a while so I could set the record straight about this maker. He comes up every once a while on this forum and others, and there’s a lot of confusion.

His name is Sichan, but he regularly uses the Americanized “Sean” for the sake of simplicity. He got his start in the William Harris Lee workshop, where he learned violin making from some great makers including Tetsuo Matsuda and Will Whedbee. Upon recognizing Peak’s talent, Lee offered to pay for the former’s tuition at the Chicago School of Violin Making. Peak accepted the offer and went to the school, but left after only a short time there, as it became apparent to him that he had already learned to make instruments and had no need of the school’s instruction. Lee accepted his reasoning and he returned to the shop. Eventually Peak left the Lee workshop to make instruments on his own. He moved to Hilliard, Ohio, where he still lives today. Although he no longer resides in Chicago, he is known as a Chicago maker because that was where he learned and developed his style. After starting his own business, he began making violas exclusively for The Violin House of Weaver. He developed a wide-body model that he referred to as his “Gofriller model, and he has continued making that model in various sizes for decades. A year or two ago, the shop bought a great viola by DiGiuni that intrigued everyone including Sean Peak. He took the viola with him so he could study it closely as he made copies of it. It has now become his second model and is a faithful reproduction of the original.

When he finishes his violas in the white, he delivers them to Weaver’s, where each one is hand varnished by Bill Weaver. There’s nothing crude about his workmanship—he may be a fast workman, but that is a result of his experience and efficiency, and his work is always very clean and precise. He keeps to himself and works alone because he prefers to just spend his hours with the wood rather than advertising and networking. The demand for his instruments already exceeds his ability to produce. 

[Violadamore]

59 minutes ago, The Violin Beautiful said:

When Sean Peak visited the shop a couple weeks ago to drop off his latest batch of violas, I took the opportunity to talk with him a while so I could set the record straight about this maker. He comes up every once a while on this forum and others, and there’s a lot of confusion.

His name is Sichan, but he regularly uses the Americanized “Sean” for the sake of simplicity. He got his start in the William Harris Lee workshop, where he learned violin making from some great makers including Tetsuo Matsuda and Will Whedbee. Upon recognizing Peak’s talent, Lee offered to pay for the former’s tuition at the Chicago School of Violin Making. Peak accepted the offer and went to the school, but left after only a short time there, as it became apparent to him that he had already learned to make instruments and had no need of the school’s instruction. Lee accepted his reasoning and he returned to the shop. Eventually Peak left the Lee workshop to make instruments on his own. He moved to Hilliard, Ohio, where he still lives today. Although he no longer resides in Chicago, he is known as a Chicago maker because that was where he learned and developed his style. After starting his own business, he began making violas exclusively for The Violin House of Weaver. He developed a wide-body model that he referred to as his “Gofriller model, and he has continued making that model in various sizes for decades. A year or two ago, the shop bought a great viola by DiGiuni that intrigued everyone including Sean Peak. He took the viola with him so he could study it closely as he made copies of it. It has now become his second model and is a faithful reproduction of the original.

When he finishes his violas in the white, he delivers them to Weaver’s, where each one is hand varnished by Bill Weaver. There’s nothing crude about his workmanship—he may be a fast workman, but that is a result of his experience and efficiency, and his work is always very clean and precise. He keeps to himself and works alone because he prefers to just spend his hours with the wood rather than advertising and networking. The demand for his instruments already exceeds his ability to produce. 

Thank you immensely for posting this. 

[GoPractice]

Thank you for the thoughtful effort.

I am also grateful for Maestro Peak's efforts as his instruments offer an option. Glad to hear that he is thriving. There are quite a few people I know who benefit from the output. 

I can see a bit of Whedbee in the Peaks. With your info, will have to find a Digiuni model to try. I have not spent anytime with a Digiuni so will have to research a bit.

There is an interesting photo of a 1991 Matsuda at the String House in Rochester.

Last time I visited the Eastman School, my visit to stores were proportionally spent mostly at ones with guitars, Bernunzio's and the House of Guitars. With friends, so short on time, were drinking in the parking lots of the guitar stores to catch up. No excuses. Genesee and Labatt? The last time we were together was in Frankenmuth, on a trip headed north, trying to get chicken. Saving a few $$ starting in the parking lot. We were pathetic and poor. These are the memories we choose at times, not the soul breaking hours of practice and rehearsals. It is also in these travels, that the most interesting instruments were encountered.

The House of Weaver instruments have also been a benefit to so many. I own at least two cellos and several violins from the shop. Shops were near the house I stayed at on trips to the area and could not resist visiting the other Eastman.

[zwickerp]

He’s real. I just bought one from the String House in Rochester, NY. He makes them in batches and the String House owner loves them. I love mine too.

[poptart]

Sean Peak violas are among the best, despite their designation as “student” instruments.

Several very fine viola students at Juilliard use them. There are also a couple of good violists at the Cleveland Institute who play on them.

There is a violist in the NY Philharmonic who has 2 of them.

A young violist recently won a job in the Cincinnati Symphony on a Sean Peak viola.

A young violist very recently won a job in the Baltimore Symphony using a Peak viola.

The legendary Shmuel Ashkenasi, longtime Vermeer Quartet primarius, purchased a small Sean Peak viola recently, and has been performing on it. 

The violist of The Amernet Quartet uses a Peak viola, exclusively. This gentleman is reputed to have popularized Peak violas with his beautiful performances. (Omg, what viola is that? It sounds gorgeous, where can I get one?) Of course he is amongst the finest violists in the world and that goes a long way, but his opinion is also highly respected.

This is Michael Klotz, renowned violist of the Amernet Quartet, performing Schumann on his Sean Peak viola:

Having heard several of these violas in concert, I highly recommend them. 
Interestingly, every single one of these players purchased their violas from The String House in Rochester, NY. I don’t know why these Peak violas are preferable to those from other shops across the country, but there must be a reason for this coincidence. 

[Ray Weaver]

I know a local freelance player who has one and it sounds gorgeous.

[ADF]

On 8/17/2023 at 6:02 PM, poptart said:

Sean Peak violas are among the best, despite their designation as “student” instruments.

Several very fine viola students at Juilliard use them. There are also a couple of good violists at the Cleveland Institute who play on them.

There is a violist in the NY Philharmonic who has 2 of them.

A young violist recently won a job in the Cincinnati Symphony on a Sean Peak viola.

A young violist very recently won a job in the Baltimore Symphony using a Peak viola.

The legendary Shmuel Ashkenasi, longtime Vermeer Quartet primarius, purchased a small Sean Peak viola recently, and has been performing on it. 

The violist of The Amernet Quartet uses a Peak viola, exclusively. This gentleman is reputed to have popularized Peak violas with his beautiful performances. (Omg, what viola is that? It sounds gorgeous, where can I get one?) Of course he is amongst the finest violists in the world and that goes a long way, but his opinion is also highly respected.

This is Michael Klotz, renowned violist of the Amernet Quartet, performing Schumann on his Sean Peak viola:

Having heard several of these violas in concert, I highly recommend them. 
Interestingly, every single one of these players purchased their violas from The String House in Rochester, NY. I don’t know why these Peak violas are preferable to those from other shops across the country, but there must be a reason for this coincidence. 

Came to this forum looking for info on my Sean Peak viola (a Goffriller model c. 2006)

The major irony here: I studied with Michael Klotz from 2007-2011 (my high school years). When I first joined his studio, Michael insisted that I upgrade my instrument from my prior "student" viola. I tested several instruments from a few different makers, including a Sean Peak from a Florida-based shop. As I recall - and given my current instrument - the Sean Peak from The String House rose to the top. At least one other student from my cohort also purchased one.

"Poptart" - your description is correct. Michael started performing on his Peak viola after losing access to a 1619 Brothers Amati instrument that was on loan to him. To my knowledge, this is still his primary instrument. I was just asking him this week what strings he puts on his. 

I actively played on my Peak viola from 2007 (purchased new) until 2015. After graduating from Michigan, I went on a performing hiatus. Burned out, injured, etc. I recently picked up my instrument. It sounded more open, powerful, and deep than I ever remember it. After a decade sitting mostly dormant, it seems to have aged like fine wine.

BTW - I string mine with a Larsen A (medium), Pirazzi CDG (stark)

[Wood Butcher]

It would seem odd to be so good at making violas, but hard to find.

A real case of hide and seek. Peakaboo!