Picking up on his dad’s creative hand skills (artist, car/aircraft mechanic), Don Leister’s mom encouraged him to follow music and art. He began violin lessons while young, discovering and falling in love with “fiddle” in his 20’s. As a side interest to his full-time, career carpentry work, he began repairing violins to learn more about them. Don started building violins in the late 80’s and now builds full-time.