Rozanna’s Violins Encourage a Player’s Imagination

By Cliff Hall

Rozanna Weinberger, the 2025 recipient of the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Female Entrepreneur of the Year award, has had a career that is anything but conventional. From her early days as a violist at Meadowmount to the founding of her company, which designs and sells uniquely styled violins, her journey has been shaped by her musical training and a personal challenge.

“Growing up in the ’60s, I had a music education that was, in many ways, quite traditional but also ideal, thanks to the dedication my family showed toward my education, the opportunities I was provided, and an active school music program from as early as I can remember,” Weinberger recalls. But as a teenager, Weinberger faced a life-altering event. “I did have an unexpected detour along the way, when I broke my neck at age 15,” she shares.

She recovered over time, and at age 16, she was invited to study with Karen Tuttle at the Peabody Conservatory of Music. “Her motherly care of each student was matched only by her insightful understanding of the mechanics of playing viola, which included the emotional and physical aspects, which far surpassed anything I had experienced before,” explains Weinberger.

After graduating, Weinberger sought to carve out a unique space for herself artistically and saw a gap in the tradition-bound string world. Her entrepreneurial spirit eventually led to the founding of her own company, Rozanna’s Violins, which specializes in visually striking instruments. Instead of the usual muted browns of a traditional violin, Weinberger’s instruments shimmer in every hue, with decorative themes as diverse as her clientele. Butterflies and flowers? Check. Snowflakes, dragons, and all manner of animals? For sure. Anime? You bet. “I believe that this creative, boundary-challenging approach is what will continue to foster the Lindsey Stirlings of the world, but just as importantly, it will instill the kind of land-on-your-feet creativity that forges an entrepreneurial approach to being an artist,” explains Weinberger.

Rozanna’s Violins sources its tonewoods from China and Romania: maple and spruce (aged over five years for upper-end models) with ebony or boxwood fittings for acoustic instruments. Electric-acoustics are made with spruce and maple (seasoned five years) from the Carpathian Mountains of Romania, with ebony fittings from India, mechanical pegs, an Aubert bridge, a quarter-inch output jack, and volume and tone knobs. Bows are made of either Brazilwood or carbon fiber.

While entry-level instruments are made using a combination of CNC machining and handwork, higher-end instruments are made entirely by hand in either China or Romania. The decorative elements, however, are all applied in New York City. Eschewing techniques that would require the use of stickers or plastic, Rozanna’s Violins only uses pigment for its eye-catching designs. There are, naturally, many opportunities to customize one’s instrument, from strings or fittings right up to the entire design of the instrument itself.   

It was her instinct to innovate that caught the attention of NAMM. “When you think about why the committee selected her this year, it was clear that she just had so much going for her. First of all, the innovation of her business, but also someone who’s running a female-owned small business, doing it all herself, and pushing the boundaries of traditional instrument design,” says John Mlynczak, president and CEO of NAMM. “This type of innovation is how small businesses are going to be successful in the future. Rozanna exemplifies the kind of entrepreneurial spirit that makes a lasting impact on the music industry.”

As the industry moves toward greater personalization, Weinberger’s efforts align perfectly with this movement. “There are many violins out there, but what Rozanna is giving artists the ability to do is pick something that inherently looks, feels, and sounds like an extension of them,” says Mlynczak. “And I think that deep connection to the artist is really where we’re seeing as the trend right now.”

Her company’s instruments cater to a broad spectrum of musicians, in particular, modern gigging string players who play a variety of styles in nontraditional venues. “Professionals gravitate towards our electric-acoustic violins and Glow Bows. In particular, we have worked with professional groups to create a signature look,” says Weinberger. “Our company asks the question: What will appeal to the artist up close but also have an impact on the audience, sometimes several feet away?”

Educators are also recognizing the value of adapting to evolving tastes, and many of Weinberger’s customers are students. “I think teachers are also slowly coming to the realization that modernization is the way to stay relevant in the students’ eyes,” says Weinberger.

Her designs have been commissioned by major retailers, including an instrument for Guitar Center: a violin designed to be sold with the music to Disney’s Frozen. Weinberger’s approach not only challenges traditional violin aesthetics but also highlights the growing importance of inclusivity and representation in the music industry. “It’s important to have many diverse voices across our industry because that is how we serve incredibly diverse communities. We want our industry and our leaders to be representative of the industry we serve,” says Mlynczak.