Patrick Heaney
Patrick is the owner of Heaney Violins. He studied bow making, restoration, and rehair with Lynn Armour Hannings and violin restoration with Hans J. Nebel. Since 2005, he has provided bow rehair and repair services for the St. Lawrence String Quartet workshop. Prior to opening his own shop, Partick apprenticed with Hideo Kamimoto at Kamimoto Violins for ten years, specializing in violin set up, restoration, and repair. He was manager of the string department at West Valley Music for five years. In his spare time, he is studying cello with Irene Sharp and violin with Jenny Rudin.
Benito Cortez
Benito Cortez’s love of the violin and lifelong desire to work in Music guides his career to the present day. After earning a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Santa Clara University, he worked jobs spanning the fields of audio electronics, sound recording, electronic toy engineering, and jazz violin performance. Whether from the electronics bench, from behind a recording studio console, at a PC in a coding cubicle, or from the concert stage, Benito has successfully found ways to serve Music. He co-authored a technical article in the Journal of the Audio Engineering Society and designed the sound and code for talk-of-the-town holiday hit toy “Tickle Me Elmo” in 1996. As a professional jazz violinist and mandolinist, he toured the U.S and Canada with “folk swing” band Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks from 2010 until leader Dan Hicks’ death in early 2016. Benito joined the staff of Heaney Violins as a retail specialist and is now an instrument repairman ...still in the service of Music.
Ben Richard
Ben Richard began playing the viola at the age of nine. He studied with the late Jenny Rudin in high school, and attended the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where he received instruction from Masao Kawasaki and Dr. Catherine Carroll. After graduating in 2012 with a degree in viola performance, he returned home to California to continue his musical studies. Currently, Ben is performing and teaching in the Bay Area while acting as the Retail Manager at Heaney Violins. He enjoys photography and tintypingin his free time.
Jake Query
Jake is a musical man of mystery, and we very much enjoy having him as a member of our staff. He is originally from Indiana, but has been living in the Bay Area since 2017.
Terra Begley
Terra is an exuberant member of the Heaney Violins staff who is always eager to help someone find their perfect instrument or have a lively conversation about geology. Terra is a cellist by training and a Victorian enthusiast at heart. You can find Terra on the streets of London during the Dickens Christmas Fair in December, and reminiscing about the genius that is "Les Misérables" during other parts of the year.
Andrew Iwahashi
Born and raised in the Bay Area, Andrew joined the team at Heaney Violins in the Spring of 2018 and has been an active and helpful member at the shop ever since. Having studied the violin with private teachers in the area for many years, Andrew possesses practical musical experience, knowledge, and a passion for those seeking to learn more about stringed instruments. He has a special knack for being able to see and understand from the customer’s perspective while helping them find their new instrument or fulfill any various musical need. In his spare time, Andrew enjoys meeting new people, traveling, and making music.
