Shelby Martignacco grew up in Idaho Falls, Idaho, where she discovered her love for stringed instruments at age eleven when she began playing the viola. As her skills and passion for music grew, she became enamored with the craft of construction and repair. In 2019, she graduated from the Violin Making School of America, completing her graduation work in Chicago while working for William Harris Lee, performing instrument setup and repair. After four years at the shop, she left in 2021 to focus on making new instruments, with an emphasis on violas. Her favorite model to make is inspired by a Jacob Steiner tenor viola.

Steven Russell Thomas was born in St. Albens, England, and grew up in West Dundee, Illinois. At a very young age, he began developing his love for woodworking and music. He graduated from the Chicago School of Violin Making in the summer of 2018. Since 2016, he has been working at Seman Violins in Skokie, IL, executing repair and setup. Being a mandolin player, Steven naturally began building fretted instruments as well. Now, he mostly focuses on mandolins and cellos, but he also enjoys building the occasional violin together with Shelby.

Shelby and Steven have been working together in the shop since 2017, combining their unique skills and passions for creation, resulting in beautifully crafted string instruments that embody their love for music and craftsmanship. Their collaboration thrives on a shared commitment to quality and an enthusiasm for helping musicians find their perfect sound.