Violin-maker orchestrates his dream of bringing music to all

Chang Jingqi, a musical instrument maker from Baixiang county in Xingtai, Hebei province, is on the way to realizing his dream of bringing music to as many people as possible.

The 61-year-old is the founder of Hebei Qide Musical Instruments Manufacturing Co, which produces, sells and repairs musical instruments and related products.

"When I was young, I was just a carpenter making furniture. Then one time I went to Beijing and had a chance encounter with handmade violins. I fell in love with making them," Chang said, adding that he also found a teacher to teach him the craft.

In 2005, after years of hard work in the capital, Chang registered his own brand, Qide Musical Instruments, whose main products are stringed instruments such as violins, violas, cellos and double basses that meet the needs of a wide variety of musicians. "When I first started, the instruments were mainly supplied to foreign countries, while the main customers in our country were from music colleges and performance groups," Chang said.

However, demand for musical instruments in first and second-tier Chinese cities gradually increased as a result of the popularization and development of music education in the country, he said.