NAMM Top 100 Dealer in 2020
Recognized as one of the industry’s most outstanding retailers
Owner, String Specialist, Appraisers Association of America, Inc, The Violin Society of America
After working in retail music stores in Greenville and Anderson for over 10 years Joyce Miller saw the need of having a shop centrally located and easily accessible to string students, teachers and players in Upstate South Carolina.
Joyce’s retail experience includes buying and selling string instruments for Bernhardt House of Violins in Greenville, SC, and Draisen Edwards Music Center in Anderson, SC. Experience purchasing from makers and distributors in Germany, Italy, South America, China, and the United States has given Joyce a broad knowledge of the string instrument market.
After being challenged to expand her expertise at conferences and from peers, Joyce traveled to auctions and shops, and visited makers in the U.S. and Europe to study instruments and build recognition skills.
Joyce is a member of the Appraisers Association of America (AAA), having passed their Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice and the Theory and Methodology Certification courses. Joyce is one of the few appraisers in AAA who specialize in string instruments.
Recognized for experience and expertise, Joyce has led seminars on identifying quality instruments to teachers at educators’ conventions in Georgia and South Carolina, and to middle and high school music students.
Joyce has been a teacher, player, strings retailer and service person. She maintained her own studios for a number of years and has started strings and orchestra programs in schools in Florida, and South Carolina. She holds a Masters degree in Secondary Music from Jacksonville University, and a Masters degree in Viola Performance from Bob Jones University. Joyce has been a student of Aaron Krosnick, Robert Billups, Joan Mulfinger, and Jay Pinner. She has played in Terre Haute Symphony, Asheville Symphony, Spartanburg Philharmonic, Greenville Symphony, and Greater Anderson Musical Arts Consortium Chamber Orchestra.
Research in string instrument appraising and identification evolved into a Masters’ thesis entitled A GUIDE TO STRING INSTRUMENT IDENTIFICATION AND APPRAISING. This thesis was submitted by Joyce to The Faculty of Bob Jones University in candidacy for the degree of Master of Music in 2009.
Joyce also contributed to an edited volume for the Appraisers Association of America: Miller, Joyce 2013. String Instruments. In W. Garrett, H. Fendelman, D. Gallager, J. Jacob, and L. Bench (eds). Appraising Art: The Definitive guide to Appraising the Fine and Decorative Arts.Appraisers Association of America: 414-17
Joyce has served on the board of The Violin Society of America (VSA). Her four year term ended November 2018 at the 46th Annual Convention & 23rd International Competition held in Cleveland, Ohio. One of the founders of The VSA’s Women in Business Luncheon, Joyce has engaged speakers Marilyn Wallin, award winning violin maker, and Annie Fullard and Mari Sato of the Cavani String Quartet.
Manager.Bookkeeper.HR
In August 2003 Denise Thompson joined Joyce Miller in opening Bernhardt House of Violins. Her longevity with the company has allowed her to do almost every job and understand the ins and outs of the retail music industry. As store supervisor she enjoys working with her incredibly talented coworkers and using her creativity to help Bernhardt House of Violins perform with utmost efficiency. When she isn’t managing the store, she enjoys spending time with her family.
Bow Maker . Instrument Repair and Restoration
The instrument and bow are more than tools to perform a piece of work, they are an extension of the performer through which music is interpreted and the art of both the composer and musician are expressed. The instrument and bow are personal. Because they are personal, a musician needs a trustworthy caretaker when maintenance, repair, or restoration are required.
As a musician of over twenty years and restorer/bow maker with fourteen years of professional experience, Daniel Miller understands the unique position he holds as a caretaker for both instruments and bows. He has developed his skills in such a way that he is able to hear what the musician hears when an instrument is not producing the tone it is capable of or the bow is not releasing the notes from the instrument as it should. Holding a Bachelor’s of Arts in English from North Greenville University, the rigorous training he received in the English department equipped him with the ability to think both critically and creatively when faced with solving problems in repair and restoration. He also studied ceramics and sculpture while in university, which trained his eye to see when looking for those problem areas that require repair or restoration.
He has trained under Lynn Hannings at the University of New Hampshire in both bow making and repair, Jerry Pascewicz and David Orlin at Oberlin College and Conservatory in bow restoration, and Joshua Henry in both bow making and restoration; and, he continues to study and learn from other professionals, believing that it is essential for growth and the ability to apply his skills in the most beneficial way possible for the discerning musician.
Assistant Manager. Music Librarian
Judi Bagnato is Assistant Manager and Music Librarian for Bernhardt House of Violins. She is responsible for ordering and displaying the music, keeping up on new music, and overseeing the retail staff.
Prior to joining Bernhardt Judi was an editor for Warner Bros. Publications and then Alfred Music Publishing managing the entire Summy-Birchard catalog, which included the Suzuki Method materials and the Frances Clark Music Tree Piano Method. She supervised the International Suzuki Violin, Cello and Piano committees when they were revising the core method books and recordings. Judi also worked closely on the Music Tree revisions.
When Judi is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband, their dog and watching movies.
Joyce Miller is an Accredited Member/supporter of:
Appraiser Association of America
The Violin Society of America
Bernhardt House of Violins is a proud member/supporter of:
American String Teachers Association
National Association for Music Education
South Carolina Music Educators Association
NAMM Top 100 Dealer in 2020
Recognized as one of the industry’s most outstanding retailers