I am currently in my 3rd year of Undergraduate Study at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. During the latter half of my second year, my teacher, Sarah-Jane Bradley, and I were discussing the purchase of a new instrument, and she recommended Cardiff Violins. During the summer holiday, I travelled to Cardiff Violins looking to try violas, and it was a great experience from start to finish. I felt as though I had all the time in the world to try the instruments and nothing was too much trouble. I was told the price range of the instruments and then left to try as many as I liked and take as long as I wanted. The staff even offered to play the instruments for me so I could hear what they sounded like from an audience perspective.
While I was trying the instruments I quickly found a favourite; a 16 inch viola made by Andrzej Kalata. After spending a couple of hours trying instruments, I decided that I would like to take that viola on loan. Very graciously, I was allowed to keep the viola on loan for a month as I was not going to be able to see my teacher until mid-September. My teacher agreed with me that the viola was the right instrument for me and had a lovely tone across the whole range of the instrument, as well as looking absolutely beautiful.
I would thoroughly recommend Cardiff Violins to anyone looking for a new instrument following my own experience there, whatever their standard. The staff were welcoming, accommodating and very helpful, and at no point did I feel under pressure of time or purchase.