I am infinitely grateful to Cardiff Violins for introducing me to my Thomas Smith violin. As a violin performance major, my violin means absolutely everything to me. I cannot imagine how different my life would be without it. I had started my undergraduate degree as a viola performance major and re-auditioned at my school (the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York) as a violinist because I could not stand to go a day without playing my violin. While most of my friends dream of someday owning their “soul mate” instrument, I know I’ve found mine.