Since 1953 the Benning family name has been synonymous with the old-world craft of making fine, master-crafted instruments.
Studio City Music was the vision of luthier Paul Toenniges, born in De Kalb, Illinois in 1908. Paul began his studies of instrument making under the promptings of renowned American violinmaker Carl Becker Sr., his brother-in-law. Paul worked alongside some of the greatest names in American violinmaking and restoration while in the employ of William Lewis & Son in Chicago from 1926 to 1940. While there, Paul established himself as an outstandng repairman and fine maker of double bass instruments. He relocated to Los Angeles in 1945, where he worked at the Rudolf Wurlitzer Company from 1946 to 1950. Finally, in 1950, Paul opened his own shop, which he named Studio City Music.
Paul ran a simple family-owned and operated business along with his wife, Ruth, and their two daughters, Nancy and Jane. Nancy Toenniges showed a remarkable talent in restoration at an early age and it was therefore decided that she should attend the Violinmaking School in Mittenwald, Germany to further her violinmaking education. Nancy became the first woman to attend and graduate from this renowned institution.
While in Mittenwald, Nancy met her future husband, Hans Benning, also a student at the violinmaking school. Together they returned to Studio City Music in 1964 to continue the legacy of Toenniges’ shop.
Hans Benning continued his studies working for a time with Carl Becker Sr. in Chicago, as well as with other distinguished makers in the region, such as Raymond Del Prado and Frank Kovanda.
Eventually, in 1978, Hans and Nancy Benning took over operations of Studio City Music when Paul retired. Their son, Eric, began working in the shop as a violinmaker in 1994.
Eric Benning began making his first violin when he was 9-years-old and completed it when he was only 11, working Saturdays and holidays. Studying under his father Hans until he was 25, Eric began his studies with Carl Becker Jr., in Chicago. Eric began managing the shop in 2000. His son, Nathan Benning, began working full-time as a luthier in 2017.
View Finding Bespoke: “The Violinmaker” A film by Michael Bernard, featuring Benning Violins.
