In 1922, Bernard Kornblum, an Austrian immigrant to St. Louis, answered an advertisement in the newspaper about an opportunity to import German violins into the American market. Kornblum, a great lover of the violin, branded the instruments in honor of the 19th century German luthier Johann Knilling. Because of the exchange rate at the time, the violins represented an incredible value for American consumers and became the foundation for his small St. Louis violin shop and what would eventually become St. Louis Music.

Karl Knilling violin in the 1973 St. Louis Music Catalog

During the school music boom following World War II, Knilling blossomed into one of the most prominent student orchestral brands in the market. That prominence continued to rise through the 20th century and Knilling’s quality products, meticulous adjustments, and innovative programs earned the trust of string educators.

Knilling begins its second century refreshed and connected to the changing needs of contemporary students and educators, while maintaining a deep connection to Bernard Kornblum’s romance with the violin upon which the brand was founded.

Product manager Lang Shen introducing new models at NAMM 2018