Philip J. Kass is a respected expert, appraiser, consultant, and writer about fine classic stringed instruments and bows. From 1977 until 2002, he was an associate of William Moennig and Son, Ltd. of Philadelphia, where he handled many of the world's great string instruments.
Since 1981 he has been a frequent lecturer for the Violin Society of America, the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers, and the British Violin Makers Association. A member of the Violin Society of America since 1975, he has served on its board of directors since 1976, as vice president from 1985 to 1997, and as president from 1997 until early 1999.
Among his many publications have been essays in The American Violin; Joannes Baptifta Guadagnini fecit Parmæ ferviens ... - Masterpieces from the Parma 2011 Galleria Nazionale Exhibition; Bottega Italiana, the book accompanying the 2013 exhibition in Cremona; and a monograph on British bowmaking, published by the Violin Society of America in 2017. An upcoming book on the violin makers of Mantua is projected for 2022. He appeared in the 2013 documentary Violin Makers – The Renaissance of Italian Lutherie. He has also published a wide variety of articles on both violin and bow makers in Strings, The Strad, The Cozio Carteggio on Tarisio.com, and the Journal of the Violin Society of America.
Mr. Kass joined the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music in 2006.
