Photo Gallery
Please visit the Photo Gallery for examples of Dominik's work.
Dominik James Zuchowicz
Dom passed away on Tuesday, February 8, 2011, after a three year battle with a rare cancer of the bone marrow - multiple myeloma.
Proud to have been born in Winnipeg's north end to Stanley, a Polish immigrant and a skilled cabinet maker, and Elizabeth Zator, brought up in pioneer rural Manitoba (Hamrlick Postal District, later Arborg), Dom achieved the apotheosis of the craft of historical bowed stringed instrument making and restoration. In November 2010 we celebrated the 40th anniversary of Dominik beginning his apprenticeship with Harold Myers at the violin shop of James Croft and Son in Winnipeg. Barbara was a customer of Croft's and they met there in 1972. She needed a better instrument. Harold promised her a "nice cello." Dom delivered. Barbara (in charge of "quality control") over the years played almost every instrument he made. She managed to hold on to four of them.
Dom began his career as an independent luthier in 1974, founding the repair shops of both the Winnipeg and Ottawa Folklore Centres (the former for Mitch Podolak, the latter for Arthur McGregor). Dr. Peggy Sampson was responsible for the purchase of his first viol in 1975 for York University in Toronto. Some time before they met in person, Peggy also thought that Dom and Barbara would "get along." With the help of one of two Canada Council grants Dom was awarded in 1981, he undertook research on historical viols in European and North American collections. Canadian taxpayers received good value for their money: he slept on the train to save a dollar and visit more collections. The instrument drawings he created on this trip were the foundation for his whole career. While in the U.S., as Barbara was completing a M.Mus. in Early Music Performance at New England Conservatory between 1981 and 1983, he acted as research consultant to the Casedessus collection of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and for the collection of the period music division of N.E.C., simultaneously developing a devoted worldwide clientele of musicians keenly interested in period music. Dominik and Barbara then happily returned to Canada, to make their home in Ottawa.
He made over 300 instruments, mainly bowed strings, but also a number of historical keyboards and period guitars. His instruments are in private and public collections world wide, including the Opus Collection of the Canadian Museum of Civilization, the Juilliard School, Johns Hopkins University, Harvard University, the University of Connecticut (Storrs), Carleton University, McGill University, The University of Montreal, the University of Western Ontario; owned by members of Tafelmusik, Philharmonia Baroque (San Francisco), Boston Baroque, Portland (Oregon) Baroque, Colonial Williamsburg, Apollo's Fire, Renassonics, Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal, the Boston Early Music Festival Orchestra, La Favoritte, and other skilled professionals and happy amateurs across the globe. He never did graduate from high school.
Dominik was happiest with a blade in his hand: at his bench creating a new instrument, at the lake rowing his hand-made sailing skiff around Hardwood Island at White Lake (Lanark Highlands), or in the kitchen planning a delicious meal to feed the masses. He did at least one, and often three N.Y. Times Crossword Puzzles daily, and with a pen (Thursday to Sunday); he was the first to admit to having a mind filled with otherwise useless trivia.
Dom loved his dogs: his distinguished sledding team leaders - Wolfgang, Titan, and Spook, and his Sheltie companions, especially Jack. His one and only athletic award was winning the Sliver Bunnell Memorial Dog-Sled Race in 1975, a 75 mile course over the Dixville Notch in the White Mountains of New Hampshire in brutal winter conditions, despite the limitations of juvenile arthritis.
Concert - Dominik Zuchowicz (1949–2011): His Instruments, Our Legacy.
A concert to honour Dominik's lifetime of achievement took place at the 2011 Boston Early Music Festival on Saturday, June 18th, at 11:30 am at Emmanuel Church, 15 Newbury St., Boston. Proceeds from this event went to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (www.themmrf.org). For more information about this celebratory occasion: http://bemf.org/pages/fest/fringe_schedule.htm. Participating artists are listed here.