At a young age, Zachary Allen knew he had a knack for music and began realising his calling as a musician in primary school. Today, the talented young musician, 18, is taking his love to the next level and perfecting the craft of musical repair, on a path to becoming Cayman’s first luthier, trained in making and maintaining stringed instruments.
“[My mom] noticed this knack [for music] as well,” Allen told the Cayman Compass. “She heard that there was a company, Cayman Arts Festival, at the time that was giving out music lessons and she signed me up and I was called down to our principal’s office where there was a bunch of students with instruments as well. I picked up a cello and started ‘picking’ out it,” Allen said.
“I knew that from the time I started playing those first new notes that this would be kind of what defined me as a person, or at least from then on. So, it’s not really that I found music. I think it’s cool that music found me, and I think that’s really awesome.”
The young musician, who plays the cello and piano, made his mark as a musician, participating in the Cayman Arts Festival since 2014. Over the years, his passion and dedication for the arts grew and today teaches young musicians and performs in the CAF Youth Camerata. He is also an active member and musician for his local church.
Luthier in training
He recently took his love for music to a high note when he got the chance to work as an apprentice for professional luthiers at Johnson String Instruments in Boston, Massachusetts, this past summer.
“I’ve always had it in my mind to kind of give back to Cayman Arts Festival for all the things they’ve done for me, and I thought one of the ways that I could have done that was by learning how to fix instruments,” he said.
In the past, luthiers from Johnson String Instrument would have to visit Cayman to fix the instruments. To save on time and money, students would have to wait until the instruments were worn, which isn’t ideal. So, Allen expressed his interest in learning to fix the instruments.
“I didn’t really think much of it at the time, but our staff members, our executive director Marius Gaina, our co-director Glen Inanga kind of jumped on it and they kind of put the strings in the background and allowed me to go [to Massachusetts], which is where we get our stringed instruments from, and I was able to directly learn from the luthiers there.”
Commenting on his experience at Johnson String Instrument, Allen said, “It was nothing short of a life-changing experience, [especially] coming from a pretty small place, you kind of seen one thing, you’ve seen it all. But being in America and in the space where instruments aren’t only maintained but also built and restored as well was just something that was so cool to me. I was able to directly learn from luthiers themselves, which I thought was pretty cool. It’s kind of a thing where you have to have been there … It’s really hard to just describe through words.”
He added, “Obviously I wasn’t able to learn every single thing that comes with being a luthier, but for the time that I spent there, it was really eye-opening and life-changing to say the least.”
Commenting on the apprenticeship, Johnson String Instrument’s workshop manager Sef Gray told the Cayman Compass, “We had him cleaning stuff the first bit, gluing cracks and seams, sharpening, some edge repairing, and shadowing the team as well. He did great, jumped into whatever we had for him and really picked up on details quickly.”
He added, “It was really exciting to work with him. He cares a lot and really is a sponge. I am glad we can offer this.”
Following his training, Allen said he has been able to practice his new skills.
“One of the first instruments I’ve fixed is actually the cello that I play on now, and I’m actually working on an instrument now for one of my students,” Allens said.
“I also have a couple more instruments at my workshop at home that I’m working on, so I’ve kind of been on my tools ever since I’ve come back.”
Allen said he plans to return to Johnson String Instrument, “but for now I’m back in Cayman giving some lessons and kind of putting what I’ve learned to the test and kind of developing some more on-the-job training. So, most of it is ether just putting into practice what I’ve learned or kind of using my skills to build on what I’ve already learned.”
Allen said following the path to lutherie, the craft of repairing and building stringed instruments, can also be attributed to the many people that “continue to push me to be the best I can be: my mom, CAF directors, staff members like Ms. Fran, and all of my teachers that have helped me to get this far as well.”
He believes there is a need to do lutherie here in Cayman, noting, “I’m really passionate about music and just kind of looking around. There’s a need for our musicians to have more of an outlet in order to become better at what they do, and part of that comes with maintaining instruments as well.”
As most luthiers are self-taught, Allen said he hopes to get as much experience as possible.
“A lot of the luthiers that I’ve worked with at Johnson String Instruments have either spent years of violin-making school or they’ve apprenticed under a luthier that’s come before them. So, I think that the most important thing is just building and building experience.
“In my current situation, it’s just taking things one step at a time. And for me right now that looks like kind of developing my confidence in fixing instruments and keeping in contact with the luthiers that have helped train me and just building experience that way.”
He added, “Another thing I’m looking into is learning how to become a piano technician as well, because there is a really dire need for piano tuners, which is something that I do hope to achieve in the future, but I just think that being able to help Cayman’s instrumental community in this way is something that’s really vital and it’s just a way for me to give back to Cayman Arts Festival and the country as a whole.”
The aspiring luthier said, “I simply cannot stress enough how grateful to God I am for putting the right people in my life to be able to stand where I am today. I trust that I’ll be an example that a fulfilling life is not only one that is used to serve others, but one that glorifies and honours the One who gave it.”
Related Videos
