Born in1968 in Weimar, Marcus Klimke left East Germany with his family for Crailsheim, West-Germany in 1984. He did an apprenticeship as a cabinet maker before he entered the violin making school in Mittenwald, where he received his diploma in 1992. After his civilian service in Munich he moved to Chicago, where he mostly did repairs and restorations in the workshop of Michael Becker for 18 months.
Between 1995 and 2001 he was assistent for Andrea Frandsen and Patrick Robin in their workshop near Angers, France. During this time he started to make his own instruments and since October 2002 he has been working fulltime in his own workshop in Angers. He makes violins, violas and cellos inspired by the Italien instruments from the great «classical » period, but especially from the Amati family and Antonio Stradivari. He obtained French citizenship in 2015 and is a member of ALADFI and EILA.
His instruments are played by professionel musicians and soloists in the USA, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Great Britain, Poland, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Belgium and France. He has also played the violin and viola as an amateur in different kinds of ensemble since the age of 7.
For many years he has successfully presented his instruments in international violin making competitions and has won numerous medals:
violin gold : Mittenwald – Germany 2014 violin silver : Cremona “Triennale” 2006, Violin Society of America 2008 and 2010, Wieniawski - Poland 2011, “Concours Etienne Vatelot” Paris 2011 violin bronze : Mittenwald - Germany 2010
viola gold : Cremona “Triennale” 2000, Violin Society of America 2000, “Concours Etienne Vatelot” Paris 2004 and 2011, first european competition “Eufonia” 2009
Mittenwald – Germany 2014
viola silver : Violin Society of America 2008 and 2012, Mittenwald 2010
viola bronze : Mittenwald - Germany 2001
cello silver : Mitenwald - Germany 2005
He also regularly participates in workshops in France, Germany and other countries, where some of the best violin makers from around the world meet and exchange their knowledge in order to improve their work.