About

In 2009, she helped establish Atelier Flagey, a shared workspace and forum for stringed instrument makers and bow makers, where she remained active until 2019.

With her training as a violinist, Catherine Janssens is particularly interested in sound production, both in baroque and modern instruments, and devotes part of her studies to discovering the acoustic principles underlying string quartet instruments. The ‘Platform for Education and Talent’ (King Baudouin Foundation) awarded her a grant in 2015.

As a founding member and president of the EKHO association from 2014 to 2023, she has contributed to the wider dissemination of contemporary instrument making in Belgium.

An active member of ALADFI (the French association of stringed instrument makers and bow makers), she also works to promote greater collaboration between Belgian stringed instrument makers and to enhance relations between stringed instrument makers and musicians. In this capacity, she is regularly invited to speak on various aspects of stringed instrument making at conferences, discussions, presentations and concerts. (Sainte Cécile ALADFI 2012, Stavelot 2017, Poznan 2018, etc.).

In 2019, she developed the Atelier Catherine Janssens, “at home”, where she works closely with French bow maker Eric Fournier.

In December 2023, she will resume the presidency of ALADFI in order to continue her commitment to promoting her profession.

For over two years, Eric Fournier has been the associate bow maker at Atelier Catherine Janssens. He comes every month for a week or more to take care of your bows.

Tel.: +33 6 26256333 / Email: archet.fournier@gmail.com

Eric Fournier discovered bow making at the age of 11. He trained for over 10 years with the most prestigious makers.

Since 2012, he has been working independently and travels all over the world. He is mainly based in the south of France and often comes to Brussels to work with luthier Catherine Janssens.