Carleen Hutchins must have seemed like an unlikely candidate to upend the world of violin-making. Not only was this New Jersey mother only an amateur at viola, she already had a day job as a grade ...

Feb. 3—When Marc Glickman was a young boy, he purchased a banjo kit. It was from Stewart-MacDonald, a small business at the time that has since grown into an international instrument supply company.

Violins in various stages of completion lie scattered around violin maker Charles Rufino’s home workshop in Dix Hills. Warm russet, amber and honey patinas color the nearly finished and varnished ...