The Manufacture d'Orgues Aubertin, established in 1978, is housed in a former priory in the small village of Courtefontaine (Jura, France) located half-way between Dôle and Besançon. The company employs some 12 craftsmen, who use traditional organ-building methods. Its beautifully-proportioned organ-cases are made of solid oak, are hand-finished, and often display elegant ornamentation. The Manufacture d'Orgues Aubertin divides its time between building new organs in France, Germany, Switzerland, Scotland, England, Portugal and Japan, restoring old organs, and maintaining and repairing all types of organs.
Bernard Aubertin, managing director of the company, developed his taste for working with wood in his family's cabinet-making business in Elvange (Moselle).
After receiving an Arts Baccalaureate and studying for three years at the School of Decorative Arts in Strasbourg, he designed a number of organs for organ-builders, and also did short stints on the staff of two organ-building companies before setting up his own company at the age of 25. He designs and voices all his instruments himself.
Bernard Aubertin taught organ-building for three years at the French National Training Centre for Apprentice Organ-Builders in Strasbourg. In 1994, he was awarded the Crédit du Nord Old French Homes Prize for his restoration of the XII-century priory where he lives and works. In 1995 he was given the life title of Master Organ-Builder by the French Ministry of Culture and in 2006, the Senatus Academicus of the University of Aberdeen in Scotland made him a Doctor Honoris Causa for the excellent organ he installed in King's College there and for his work in general.
Most recently, he built a new organ for St John's College at the University of Oxford, England, which was installed in December 2007.
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Bernard Aubertin, Organ-Builder |
