Our Story
In the summer of 1996, founder Dalton Potter opened a string shop rooted in a simple but powerful belief: you can succeed in life by helping others succeed. By offering professional luthier services at an affordable price and making beautiful instruments accessible, Dalton aimed to bring the gift of music into every home.
As the years passed, it became clear that the professional string community needed a shop they could trust—one that was reliable, ethical, and deeply committed to excellence. Our small team of four has since grown into a talented and principled staff of over twenty. We’ve made it our mission to recruit and retain the most knowledgeable and skilled luthiers and archetiers in the field. Today, our team provides world-class conservation and restoration services for string instruments and bows.
In 2004, Dalton partnered with Jim Kelly, a professional violist with a strong background in retail management.
Under his leadership, our shop has expanded from a beloved local business into an internationally recognized company with trusted colleagues and partners around the world.
In 2015, we relocated from Bethesda to our permanent home: a historic Takoma Park mansion designed in 1890 by renowned architect Stanford White for a prominent Washington family.
Today, Potter Violins travels internationally to meet with and evaluate the work of leading contemporary makers, as well as to source exceptional antique instruments and bows. These global connections allow us to offer a highly personalized service for musicians seeking truly one-of-a-kind pieces.
Whether you’re a concert artist or just beginning your musical journey, you’ll find a welcoming and knowledgeable family here at Potter Violins.
The Founder
L. Dalton Potter
Over the past 30 years, Mr. Potter has built a reputation for expertise in tonal and playing adjustments to some of the most historically important string instruments in the world. His long experience in fine restorations contributes significantly to the instruments he creates from scratch, as well as the high-quality workshop instruments produced in his shop.
Sales and Rental Staff
Yan Izquierdo
Sales Manager
Yan joined Potter Violins in 2021. He is a professional violinist, performing throughout the United States as an orchestral player, chamber musician and soloist. He has made frequent appearances with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, National Philharmonic and the American Pops Orchestra. In addition to his classical performance career, he is also an adept fiddler, mandolinist, songwriter and producer, having founded original music projects such as Shayna & the Catch and Secret Country. He received a Master of Music degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and his primary teachers were Kurt Sassmannshaus, Timothy Lees and Giora Schmidt.
Derek Goad
Operations Manager
Instrument Sales
Derek joined Potter Violins in 2016 and is an active freelance violist in the Washington, DC area. He studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music with Stanley Konopka, assistant principal violist of The Cleveland Orchestra, and at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music with Stephen Wyrczynski, formerly of The Philadelphia Orchestra. Derek has performed on some of DC’s most prominent stages, including the Kennedy Center, Constitution Hall, and Strathmore. He has appeared with ensembles such as the National Philharmonic, Apollo Orchestra, Maryland Lyric Opera, American Pops Orchestra, Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, and more.
Elizabeth Brooks
Rentals Supervisor & Sales
Melody Flores
Sales
David Coltun
Rentals
Marja Maddrie
Rentals
Angel Contreras
Rentals
Eddie Adams
Rentals
Workshop Staff
Christopher Jacoby
Workshop Manager
Christopher Jacoby studied at the Violin Making School of America from 2003-2007. After attending VMSA, Christopher moved next door to study repair and restoration under Peter Prier. There he was lucky to begin handling and studying instruments of the great Italian Masters. Christopher has spent the last decade building instruments for discerning professionals around the world.
Robyn Sullivan | Robert Wood |
| Instrument Repair | Instrument Repair |
Hannah Fenn | Alfred Mercoucheff | Jeremy Crull | Jerry Skiscim |
| Instrument Repair | Instrument Repair | Bow Repair | Bow Repair |
Administration
Lauren Bennett
Bookkeeper
Jane Andrews
Administrative Assistant
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What Our Clients Say
Thank you for the excellent service and in particular the kind, helpful, and competent service provided by your cello specialist, Louis. I am very happy with my upgraded cello! -Felicia…
After years of playing on a J.B. Vuillaume lent from the Library of Congress, I wanted to move to a classic Italian instrument. Jim Kelly and the staff at Potter…
Dear Mr. Kelly, Thank you so much for your help and work on my viola. It was a very generous act of yours and I appreciate that you and wor work…
Dear Potter Violins family, Thank you for hosting us for such a wonderful day of playing and learning about beautiful instruments. We are so lucky to have you in our…
Dear Jim, Thank you so much for my bow! My other one was so heavy. I was having a hard time playing with it. Thank you for the help with…
Since my daughter started playing cello in August, I have been to your fabulous establishment 3 times. My experience each time has been wonderful. Everyone is so helpful starting with…
I just wanted to say thank you so much for adjusting my violin. It took some time to adjust to Jacksonville weather, but now my violin sounds better than ever!…
Dear Mr. Potter, I write to tell you what a kind and valuable employee you have in Melanie. She has helped my son and me with his rentals since 2013,…
Jim Kelly is my “go-to” person, an adviser that I count on when shopping for violins and bows at Potter Violins. He is welcoming and personable. He can tell me…
I visited to fix minor damages to my violin before my deployment to Afghanistan. They happily took it and made these minor fixes in a jiffy with no costs. I…
Thank you so much for your help. I think I received the best service in a while. I know how busy you are this time a year, but you made…
