Contact: Katryn Conlin, Director of Communications
651-385-6364 | kconlin@southeastmn.edu

Minnesota State College Southeast celebrating golden anniversary of string instrument repair programs in Red Wing on May 15 & 16

Red Wing, MN (April 30, 2025) -- Launched in 1974, the Guitar Repair and Building and Violin Repair and Making programs at Minnesota State College Southeast in Red Wing, Minnesota are jointly celebrating 50 years of teaching lutherie -- the art of string instrument repair -- this year.

Special events honoring 50 Years of Lutherie are planned for May 15 and 16, 2025, including an Open House and Reception, Student Guitar Show, and Student Violin Showcase. All events take place at the Red Wing campus at 308 Pioneer Road, Red Wing, MN and are free and open to the public. 

Campus tours will be available during the Open House on May 15 - a chance to see how the lutherie labs have grown and changed over the years. At the Student Guitar Show and Student Violin Showcase, visitors can see first-hand the impressive work being done by Minnesota State College Southeast's next generation of string instrument makers, a testament to the college's legacy of 50 Years of Lutherie.

50 Years of Lutherie Events

For more information and to RSVP, go to www.southeastmn.edu/music.

Open House, Thursday, May 15, 11 am to 1 pm

Campus and lab tours; cake, coffee, and lemonade (lunch available for purchase); bluegrass jam session; alumni guitar display; program recognizing past faculty.

Student Guitar Show, Thursday May 15, 1 to 4 pm

Display of new student-made acoustic and electric guitars, archtop guitars, and mandolins. Acoustic instruments played in concert by professional musicians Mike Cramer, Phil Heywood, and Chris Silver.

Student Violin Showcase, Friday, May 16, 10 to 11:30 am

Display of violins made by Southeast students, played in concert by the students themselves. Informal reception following.

Program History

Incorporating both violin and guitar repair, String Instrument Repair was first taught at Minnesota State College Southeast by Larry Frye from 1974-1980, followed by Dave Patterson from 1980-1984. In 1984, luthier David Vincent moved to Red Wing from Wichita, KS, to teach at the college.

Under Vincent's guidance the program grew to such an extent that an instructor specializing in violin was hired in 1990, Lisbeth Nelson Butler.

Both instructors contributed decades of expertise and dedication to their programs. David Vincent focused on Guitar Repair and Building until his retirement in 2021. Lisbeth Nelson Butler established the college's world-renowned Violin Repair program and retired in 2017.

Today's instructors are all past students of Nelson Butler and Vincent: Southeast graduates Steve Rossow and Charlotte Matis (Violin Repair and Making) and Brian Boedigheimer, Tim Reede, and Ben Williams (Guitar Repair and Building).

About Minnesota State College Southeast

Located in the historic river towns of Red Wing and Winona, Minnesota State College Southeast is a community and technical college that provides a flexible, affordable, inclusive, and equitable college environment and offers a clear sense of direction to all students. College faculty and staff genuinely care about students' end goals, whether that be earning an academic award, transferring to university to complete a bachelor's degree, or attaining career skills. Minnesota State College Southeast is a member of the Minnesota State system.

At Minnesota State College Southeast, we believe college is for everyone. We believe in meeting students where they are. We believe every step toward reaching their educational goals should be simple and achievable.