Peter Biffin

Peter Biffin is one of Australia's outstanding instrument makers, maintaining an international presence at the highest level for over twenty years. The quality of his work has been recognised by Queen Elizabeth II (Silver Jubilee Medal), the Australian Government (Cultural Exchange Program, Dept Foreign Affairs), the Australia Council (several grants, Craft Board; grant for tarhu research, Music Board), and musicians across the globe.

Peter's reputation has been built on creating instruments with the unusual combination of great subtlety in tone colour production with unprecedented power and projection. His skills in acoustics, combined with a fine eye for beauty in design have brougth some of the worlds leading musicians to playing his instruments, including Ross Daly (tarhu, lyra tarhu and kemanche tarhu), Habil Aliev (kemanche tarhu), Kayhan Kalhor (kemanche tarhu), Joe Pass, Ry Cooder and Taj Mahal (guitars), Hopkinson Smith (lute and vihuela), Xavier Diaz (baroque guitar and vihuela).

The current work with Spike Fiddles draws upon several decades of research and development in the workshop combined with Peter's talents as a musician. Peter has performed on his own instruments across Australia and New Zealand, and with the David Hykes Trio has played tours including Mexico, USA, France and the Festival of Asian Arts in Hong Kong. In 2002 he was one of 8 musicians selected world wide to participate in the Knee Fiddle Magic festival in Rudolstadt Germany, performing with outstanding musicians including Ross Daly, Kayhan Kalhor and Dhruba Gosh.