THE TEAM
Christian Charlemagne
Birth of a vocation
Son of a weaver and a painter, Christian grew up between the land, the forest and the old stones of a small village in the Tarn. With a certain artistic sense and a very good ear for music, he has become passionate about music since a very young age and later, has naturally turned to lutherie.
Trained with P. Charton and F. Lebeau for manufacturing, then A. Snitkovski (former student of JF Schmitt) for restoration, he created his own workshop in 2004.
However, he continues to improve constantly through many professional sessions : with JJ Fasnacht (high restoration techniques), I. Carr, F. Denis, T. Echavidre, F. Perego. Christian Charlemagne has been an active member of Aladfi since 2005, and of String Attached.
An art that is transmitted throughout life
After the successful launch of his workshop, other luthiers have joined him to complete his team. For more than 20 years, twenty luthiers have been trained with him. Today, he continues to surround himself with enthusiasts whose professional experiences he complements thanks to the best restoration techniques and a certain sense of pedagogy.
A passion without limits
The technique of the gesture and its precision, the perfect mastery of the tool are essential. The love of wood, the search for the sound timbre, the listening of the musician come to guide the art of the luthier. Since 2019, through hard work, patience and experience, Christian has quite naturally devoted himself essentially to the making of the quartet instruments in the purest tradition of the Italian masters. Thanks to the reorganisation of the workshop, his experience and the team with whom he has been able to surround himself, the restoration and the adjustment of old instruments continue to be transmitted and ensured with ever higher quality standards.
Today passion and enthusiasm are still intact and many musicians from France and around the world trust him faithfully.
Paul Grosset
Born near Bordeaux in 1996 to a winegrower mother and a craftsman father, the love of tradition and know-how have always accompanied Paul.
At a very young age, he discovered the piano and the violin. He has been passionate about the arts and studied Music, Musicology and History at university.
Lutherie quickly aroused his curiosity, combining music, artistic finesse as well as the heritage of century-old techniques and gestures.
An internship with Bogidar Vermand has confirmed his vocation. He then studied the making of traditional musical instruments at the George Sand high school in La Châtre in 2020.
The following year, he joined the International Lutherie School of Antwerp (ILSA), where he learned the making of quartet instruments from Erik Buys, Anton Somers and Maarten de Keukeleire.
Graduated in 2023, and following an internship the same year, he was invited to join the workshop by Christian Charlemagne.
He has happily joined a warm team, ready to develop his knowledge and techniques, in a privileged setting in contact with numerous musicians.
At a very young age, he discovered the piano and the violin. He has been passionate about the arts and studied Music, Musicology and History at university.
Lutherie quickly aroused his curiosity, combining music, artistic finesse as well as the heritage of century-old techniques and gestures.
An internship with Bogidar Vermand has confirmed his vocation. He then studied the making of traditional musical instruments at the George Sand high school in La Châtre in 2020.
The following year, he joined the International Lutherie School of Antwerp (ILSA), where he learned the making of quartet instruments from Erik Buys, Anton Somers and Maarten de Keukeleire.
Graduated in 2023, and following an internship the same year, he was invited to join the workshop by Christian Charlemagne.
He has happily joined a warm team, ready to develop his knowledge and techniques, in a privileged setting in contact with numerous musicians.
Clara Demke
Clara was born in Berlin. She grew up between Germany and Canada, where she lived with her family for nine years.
She wanted to learn the violin since the age of 5, and it was with her grandmother's that she first began to play the instrument!
She was 16 when she completed her first violin-making internship in Ottawa with David Doyle. During two weeks, she discovered a calm environment that suited her spirit perfectly. The smell of resin, the sound of tools working the wood... this successful immersion would determine the rest of her career.
Upon returning to Germany, she traveled to the Bavarian Alps in Mittenwald to attend the Bavarian School of Musical Instrument Making to continue her violin-making training for three years. During this time, she built and varnished new instruments, but also learned the theoretical aspects of instrument making. Several internships opened her to different workshops and working methods.
After graduating, the European Erasmus program opened the doors of France and her coming.
She spent a few months in Gap before arriving in Lyon in February 2024. She then began an internship at the Christian Charlemagne’s workshop. There, she enjoyed learning the art of restoration. The balance between preserving an instrument, ensuring the perfection of the work, and achieving the sound quality demanded by musicians is a challenge she enjoys very much.
After her internship, she was hired at the workshop, and is now part of a team she greatly appreciates.
She wanted to learn the violin since the age of 5, and it was with her grandmother's that she first began to play the instrument!
She was 16 when she completed her first violin-making internship in Ottawa with David Doyle. During two weeks, she discovered a calm environment that suited her spirit perfectly. The smell of resin, the sound of tools working the wood... this successful immersion would determine the rest of her career.
Upon returning to Germany, she traveled to the Bavarian Alps in Mittenwald to attend the Bavarian School of Musical Instrument Making to continue her violin-making training for three years. During this time, she built and varnished new instruments, but also learned the theoretical aspects of instrument making. Several internships opened her to different workshops and working methods.
After graduating, the European Erasmus program opened the doors of France and her coming.
She spent a few months in Gap before arriving in Lyon in February 2024. She then began an internship at the Christian Charlemagne’s workshop. There, she enjoyed learning the art of restoration. The balance between preserving an instrument, ensuring the perfection of the work, and achieving the sound quality demanded by musicians is a challenge she enjoys very much.
After her internship, she was hired at the workshop, and is now part of a team she greatly appreciates.
Rachel Bruckert
The newest addition to the team, Rachel, has just recently arrived as the workshop’s administrator.
Born in 1986 in Savoie, she studied modern literature and performing arts, before embarking on her professional journey.
She worked as a lighting designer for six years for festivals such as Les Nuits de Fourvière and Le Bonheur des Mômes, or in venues such as the Théâtre de la Croix Rousse and L’Espace Malraux in Chambéry.
She then fulfilled a childhood dream by becoming a bookseller during two years.
After the birth of her daughter in 2018, she created an independent bulk grocery store proposing healthy, package-free products to the residents of Villeurbanne. She was the manager of this local business during four years before leaving, enriched by the several encounters and human exchanges with new people.
After this unusual career path, yet one that always puts human connection, craftsmanship, and culture first, Rachel is delighted to join Christian Charlemagne’s workshop and put all her diverse skills to help the boutique !
There, she discovered a caring team whose values are the transmission of knowledge and respect for instruments and musicians. A team united by a passion for their craft.
Her office is located in the « shop » section of the workshop, where she welcomes you with a smile, ready to answer your questions about purchases, renting, and instruments repairs. She is the liaison between you and the luthiers.
Born in 1986 in Savoie, she studied modern literature and performing arts, before embarking on her professional journey.
She worked as a lighting designer for six years for festivals such as Les Nuits de Fourvière and Le Bonheur des Mômes, or in venues such as the Théâtre de la Croix Rousse and L’Espace Malraux in Chambéry.
She then fulfilled a childhood dream by becoming a bookseller during two years.
After the birth of her daughter in 2018, she created an independent bulk grocery store proposing healthy, package-free products to the residents of Villeurbanne. She was the manager of this local business during four years before leaving, enriched by the several encounters and human exchanges with new people.
After this unusual career path, yet one that always puts human connection, craftsmanship, and culture first, Rachel is delighted to join Christian Charlemagne’s workshop and put all her diverse skills to help the boutique !
There, she discovered a caring team whose values are the transmission of knowledge and respect for instruments and musicians. A team united by a passion for their craft.
Her office is located in the « shop » section of the workshop, where she welcomes you with a smile, ready to answer your questions about purchases, renting, and instruments repairs. She is the liaison between you and the luthiers.
