Robert König

Following his apprenticeship as a violin maker at the Vocational School for Musical Instrument Making in Klingenthal/D, he completed his degree in Musical Instrument Making at the West Saxon University of Applied Sciences Zwickau in Markneukirchen/D and passed his master craftsman examination in violin making in 2006. His professional career included positions with Heiko Seifert, Cristian Erichson, and Michael Stürzenhofecker. He has been working as an independent violin maker since 2011; in 2013, he founded the company König & Betcher Geigenbau, which he has been operating from Langnau/CH since 2023. From 2009 to 2016, he taught technology and materials in the Musical Instrument Making degree program in Markneukirchen. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the German Musical Instrument Award for cello, a bronze medal for cello at the International Violin Making Competition Triennale in Cremona, and the Environmental Award from the Chemnitz Chamber of Crafts for his innovation in developing an ebony substitute.

Starting in the 2026/27 school year, he will contribute his expertise in new construction, material science, and materials engineering to the curriculum at the Swiss Violin Making School.