The Ottawa Symphony Orchestra recently delved into the world of 3D printing. They spent 18 months creating a fine-tuned, 3D printed replica of an acoustic violin. The experiment initially stemmed from an interest to see what other sounds could be produced using a violin. Music director Alain Trudel of Local 406 (Montreal, PQ) states, “We wanted to see what the future might sound like.”

One of the benefits of creating 3D printed violins is that they would be a fraction of the cost of an acoustic violin. Mary-Beth Brown of Local 406, a soloist in the ensemble, believes it will grow interest in the instrument and allow more people the opportunity to play music, “… being able to 3D-print would give more people access to more music in more places.”