About
-What I like about your work is that it is visionary. It is as if your guitars were coming from a different time,
that could be forward or the past.-
Marco Coppiardi,
Violin maker, Cremona
"Practicing guitar making in Quebec - Canada professionally since 1998, my first workshop was a small industrial space located in the Rosemont-Petite Patrie district in Montreal. It is really in this building at 305 Bellechasse - rubbing shoulders with visual artists on a daily basis, that my current practice was born.
Initially, I limited myself to the general format of the guitar, to quickly branch off towards what I could call -the origin of the guitar-, by actively taking an interest in the making of small lutes and instruments with raw and simple characters. This method of making opened up my understanding of the guitar, and I have maintained it in parallel with a more standard production.
Between 2003 and 2007, small round-body instruments were born from my hand, to slowly approach the format of the acoustic guitar, with Guitare-Fruit in 2008. During this part of my research, I offered a variety of timbres and tones to local musicians, while exploring the shape of the instrument, materials and construction methods:
The influence of this work related to round-body instruments will have culminated in the creation of works of the type -acoustic guitars with round body-, such as Po, in 2009, and Oudtar in 2011: The latter, in reference to its Middle Eastern root inspired by the Oud, will have completed my research on form and design started ten years earlier. It will have also taught me to work the assembly of wood in 3D in a more complete way, and will have informed me on the acoustic incidence of the rounded sound box.
Between 2014 and 2018 I explored the instrument's register. Guitars such as Multi, Maya, Raga, Old-School archtop, and Guitare-Fruit Wurcer, all have in common a search for sound amplitude.
The arrival of Sun, Moon, and Vibrations (2019), Clara Archtop (2020), Echoes of Time (2022), Raga 2 (2023) and that of my current projects, support in their own way, my desire to express the multidimensional value of the guitar instrument; i.e. its known expressive sonic possibilities and those in development."
(T.André)
Sun, Moon, and Vibrations - 2019
The Clara archtop. - 2020
-When luthier Thierry André first picked up a guitar he felt as if the vibrations of the strings were bound to the divine. At that moment, the theories he was learning in high school—from physics to chemistry— started to make sense, as if they were encompassed within that one note of music. “It was like discovering a new universal language,” Andre sais. “A big door opened in front of me. That vibrating string gave me a road to follow." -
J.H. White,
Magnifissance Magazine
-You know I think so highly of you and your stunning, inventive, impossible work.
Truly, it’s a special gift to have you in the profession, thank you for building instruments! -
Ken Parker
-Through his work, André takes full ownership of the making of the guitar instrument: Under his hand, the guitar retains all of its function and historical quality, while is composition is constantly renewed. Displaying formal, aesthetic, and distinct acoustic research, his expressive language addresses the entire object rather than its degree of ornamentation. André validates the idea that the making of a stringed instrument constitutes an act of creation in its own right.-
A. Brunet,
Director, École de lutherie Guitare Bruand
Trained first at the Institute of Crafts of Quebec by André Brunet ('92-97), then apprenticed to Fred Carlson in California (2004), Thierry André is a many time artistic grant & prize recipient, notably with the CMAQ Jean-Marie Gauvreau Prize (2020), the CFCMA Fine Crafts Distinction Award (2022). and his recent nomination as part of the iconic Archtop Foundation’s -The Blue guitars- Collection for 2025.
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
2004-2005 STAGE DE PERFECTIONNEMENT – FRED CARLSON STUDIOS, Santa Cruz CA, États-Unis
1995-1997 AEC Sp. LUTHERIE-GUITARE – INSTITUT DES METIERS D’ART DU QUÉBEC, Canada
1992-1997 PROGRAMME CONTINU – ATELIER-ÉCOLE LUTHERIE-GUITARE BRUAND, Canada
EXHIBITIONS
2025 The Rocky Mountain Archtop Festival, Olde Town Arvada, Colorado (Commissariat, Groupe) États-Unis
2023 -Doux-, du 10 au18 juin, Chapelle des Processions de St-Jean-Port-Joli (Commissariat, Solo) Canada
2020 The Holy Grail guitar show, EGB, Estrel-Berlin (Version web) (Sélection, Groupe) Allemagne
2017 Salon International de guitare de Québec. Centre La Chapelle (Sélection, Groupe) Canada
2017 Woodstock Invitational Luthier Showcase, Bearsville Theatre (Commissariat, Groupe) États-Unis
2017 Boutique Guitar Showcase USA Tour (Commissariat, Groupe) États-Unis
2016 The Holy Grail guitar show, EGB, Estrel-Berlin (Sélection, Groupe) Allemagne
2016 Acoustic Instrument Celebration, Earl Warren Hall CA (Commissariat, Groupe) États-Unis
2015 The Holy Grail guitar show, EGB, Estrel-Berlin (Sélection, Groupe) Allemagne
2015 Woodstock Invitational Luthier Showcase, Bearsville Theatre (Commissariat, Groupe) États-Unis
2014 The Holy Grail guitar show, EGB, Estrel-Berlin (Sélection, Groupe) Allemagne
2013 Woodstock Invitational Luthier Showcase, Bearsville Theatre (Commissariat, Groupe) États-Unis
2011 Mutation Matière Son, Centre Materia Québec (Commissariat, Groupe) Canada
2010 Salon de la guitare de Montréal, Hyatt Regency Montréal (Sélection, Groupe) Canada
2009 Salon de la guitare de Montréal, Palais des Congrès Montréal (Sélection, Groupe) Canada
2008 Salon de la guitare de Montréal, Hyatt Regency Montréal (Sélection, Groupe) Canada
2007 François-Houdé – Exposition, CMAQ, Place Bonaventure Montréal (Jurée, Groupe) Canada
2007 Salon de la guitare de Montréal, Hyatt Regency Montréal (Sélection, Groupe) Canada
2006 SIMMM salon international, Place des Arts, Montréal (Invitation, Groupe) Canada
1997 Symposium of stringed Instruments Artisans, ASIA, Burlington VT (Invitation, Groupe) États-Unis
PEER-JURIED AWARDS & GRANTS
2023 Subvention aux Artistes (Métiers d’art, du concept à la réalisation) CAC
2023 Subvention aux Artistes (Métiers d’art, recherche et création) CAC
2022 Prix Distinction en Métiers d’art Award (Lauréat) CFCMA
2022 Bourse de Développement (Métiers d’art, recherche et création -Projet) CALQ
2022 Subvention aux Artistes (Métiers d’art, recherche et création) CAC
2021 Bourse de Développement (Métiers d’art, recherche et création) CALQ
2021 Subvention aux Artistes (Métiers d’art, recherche et création) CAC
2020 Prix Jean-Marie Gauvreau Award (Lauréat) CMAQ
2020 Subvention aux Artistes (Métiers d’art, recherche et création) CAC
2020 Bourse de Développement (Métiers d’art, recherche et création) CALQ
2016 Bourse de Déplacement (Métiers d’art) CALQ
2016 Subvention aux Artistes (Métiers d’art, recherche et création) CAC
2015 Bourse de Déplacement (Métiers d’art) CALQ
2015 Bourse de Déplacement (Métiers d’art) CALQ
2014 Bourse de Développement (Métiers d’art, recherche et création) CALQ
2014 Bourse de Déplacement (Métiers d’art) CALQ
2013 Bourse de Déplacement (Métiers d’art) CALQ
2013 Subvention aux Artistes (Métiers d’art, recherche et création) CAC
2009 Bourse de Développement (Métiers d’art, recherche et création) CALQ
2007 Prix François-Houdé Award (Mention d'honneur/ Honorable mention) CMAQ
2004 Bourse de perfectionnement (Métiers d'art, type B) CALQ
1999 Prix jeune promoteur Award (Lauréat) CDEC Rosemont-Petite Patrie
PRESS COVERAGE
2023 RADIO-CANADA -Un luthier d’exception : Reportage d’Alexandre Touchette -. Reportage, Canada
2022 MATIERES.CA – CMAQ -Thierry André, d’une simplicité élégante -. Article, Canada
2022 MAGNIFISSANCE -Discovering unique instruments: A guitar that roars -. Article, Canada
2022 WATTS, M. – The Clara archtop – Michael Watts Guitars. Reportage web, Angleterre
2020 LE DEVOIR - Un prix pour le facteur d’instrument Thierry André -. Article, Canada
2020 SARRAZIN, S. - Lutherie Québécoise - LaPresse. Article, Canada
2020 THE CANADIAN - Meeting between Louis-Jean Cormier and Thierry André - Article, Canada
2020 QUB RADIO - Tout un bagage - CMAQ/Québécor Média. Podcast, Canada
2020 LE JOURNAL DE MONTRÉAL - Quand la guitare devient une muse - Article, Canada
2020 WATTS, M. - A fingerstyle archtop – Michael Watts Guitars. Reportage web, Angleterre
2020 EDLUND, C. - Featured artist Thierry Andre - Artsy Shark. Article, États-Unis
2019 MARANO, A. - Design Musicale - Gangemi Editore-Rome. Publication, Italie
2019 KUNG, J. T. - Sun, Moon, and Vibrations revisited - Article, Canada
2017 GALE, J. – A conversation with Rudy Pensa – Boutique guitar showcase. Video, États-Unis
2016 JOURNEL, P. - Thierry André, Holy grail Guitar Show 2016 - interview, France
2015 CARBONNEAUX, J. -The Holy Grail Guitar Show 2015 - interview, France
2015 KAISER, U. - Guitarre -Oud- Kombi - Guitar Ausgabe - Article, Allemagne
2015 D’ANGELO, M. - 10 questions we ask everyone - Guitars Exchange. Article, Italie
2014 CARBONNEAUX, J. - Thierry André - Oudtar 2 et guitare Kouai - Article, France
2011 DESLOGES, J. - Mutations-matière-son - Le Soleil, 17 sept.2011, Article, Canada
2009 SOMOGYI, E. - The responsive guitar - Hal Leonard corporation. Mention, États-Unis
2009 BOURGAULT-CÔTÉ, G. -Des six cordes - Le Devoir, Article, Québec, Canada
2009 CARBONNEAUX, J. - Thierry André, rencontre - Reportage web, France
2006 CMAQ - Luthiers québécois présents au SIMMM - Brochure, Québec, Canada
1999 CIRRUS Communications - Fais-en ton affaire - Portrait 7min, Québec, Canada
COLLECTIONS
The Archtop Foundation - Vermont, États-Unis The Blue Guitars (2025).
Collection Teti - New Hampshire, États-Unis. Zyra, Multi 2. Sun, Moon, and Vibrations, Clara Archtop, Echoes of Time.
Collection Doctorow - New Jersey, États-Unis. Sakura, Oudtar, Multi.
Collection Wurcer - Wisconsin, États-Unis. Guitare-Fruit Wurcer.
Collection Mtukudzi - Harare, Zimbabwe. Tuku.
Meeting with Bucky Pizzarelli in 2013 - Woodstock NY
The Holy Grail guitar Show - Berlin 2016