Mr. Bacon came to Ashland, Oregon in 1979 to perform with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. He fell in love with Southern Oregon making instruments for a number of years before his work in historic instrument restoration came to fruition in the form of a string instrument repair business. He has overseen Bellwood Violin with great joy and community support and serves the needs of numerous student, amateur and professional musicians of the area.
Stephen began music lessons as a child studying a variety of instruments. He continues to pursue his interest in historic music, though purely with the love of an amateur.
His formal education includes a music degree from El Camino College in Southern California, formal independent studies with an emphasis in the theory and construction of historic instruments from Cal State Dominguez Hills, extended studies at USC Isomata, UCLA, UC Riverside, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Schola Cantorum Basiliensis Switzerland, the Ali Akbar School of Music and Southern Oregon University. He continues to do research at museums and libraries throughout Europe and the United States.
Stephen began working with, making, and repairing musical instruments at the age of seventeen, in his grandfather’s shop. From ages 16 thru 23 he served a formal apprenticeship with Ted Ernst. His training in instrument repair consists of college courses, and minor mentoring by a series of masters, including Rod Cameron, Herb Myers, Joseph Grubauch, David Morse, Clarence Shaw, Michael Klein, David Kerr, David Jones and Janet Toon. These skilled Professionals have nurtured his skills and provided inspiration in his work.
He is a strong supporter of Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon and past board member. He performs with the Jefferson Baroque Orchestra, Who’s Hu Chinese Music Ensemble, lectures with the Schuman Collection and has served as an instructor for the Southern Oregon University Collegium Musicum. He is the Conservator and Assistant Curator of the Schuman Collection of Musical Instruments at Southern Oregon University.
Stephen is the great-grandson of Edward R. Bacon, accomplished violinist, and owner of the violin shop of John Hornsteiner in Chicago in the early 1900s. Hornsteiner has been referred to as the great teacher of the American school of violin makers. Stephen’s grandfather, John W. Bacon, was a physics professor and inventor, and spent time under Hornsteiner. His father, Richard, a violinist in his youth, was an engineer, and his mother, Bonny Bellwood, was an artist and musician.
