About Us

For many years, Jim has and continues to provide the most personalized service whether it's maintaining and adjusting my Vuillaume or acquiring the best instruments and bows. He found me the two amazing bows that I currently play- a Fetique and a Morizot pere. He understands my specific needs as a player and matches them to the instruments. His knowledge of the market has proven that my instrument purchases are both a perfect fit for my playing and a great investment.

As a player, [Jim Kelly] knows violins and bows and can speak of them and their makers from a historical perspective, and their resale prospects. He has learned what I like for my most advanced students and keeps that in mind when they come in to try instruments.

After years of playing on a J.B. Vuillaume lent from the Library of Congress, I wanted to move to a classic Italian Instrument. Jim Kelly, through his network of international sources, managed to secure a fine G.B. Guadagnini I play on now. I am grateful for his hard work.

"The patience and perseverance I have seen from Jim Kelly is truly admirable. Mr. Kelly has worked tirelessly to assess my advanced students' specific needs along with individual preferences for coloration of tone and projection of sound. These efforts to find each and every violinist their perfect match are relentless and so admirable. You can truly sense the great joy in this portion of Mr. Kelly's work, as he is genuinely honored to be part of this all-important process.

Jim takes personal interest in matching the perfect instrument with the player. His expertise and passion for the instruments coupled with his performer's ear and sensibility combine to create the ideal conditions for finding the match!

My husband and I have both had the pleasure of buying and selling many instruments and bows with Jim Kelly. We trust him implicitly to help with purchases and sales. He is not only extremely knowledgable about the instrument business, he also has the intuition of a musical colleague or coach, and he can make recommendations on what will help a musician sound their very best. Most recently Jim recommended commissioning a smaller viola by Charles Coquet in Paris. Jim guided every step for me while communicating with the maker directly. When the instrument arrived....I was pleased and grateful I took his advice on this commission as it was the perfect instrument for me.

Jim Kelly and his team are the absolute best. I moved to the DC area 4 years ago and he’s taken great care of my instrumental needs with service that is both professional and personal. He knew exactly what I needed to make my violas sound performance ready all the time.

Ten years ago, I knew I'd outgrown the viola that I was performing with, and the mere thought of trying to shop for my next one was daunting. Jim was knowledgeable, patient, and so helpful throughout the entire process. Not only did he offer an exceptional selection of instruments for me to try, he acted as a neutral consultant, blind-listening to me play not only the violas he offered me but even some that I found from other reputable dealers. With his expertise, he guided me to an viola/bow combo that was exactly what I needed. My viola was brand new, and over the years, it never ceases to amaze me how much I hear 'my voice' in the sound when I play. It only continues to get better! When it comes to the purchase of a fine instrument, there is no one I would trust more than Jim. In the years since, he's helped me by at times loaning me fine violins for work, and most recently, he worked with luthier Chris Jacoby to help build a five-string violin and assisted in the purchase of a bow to go with it. He also continues to care deeply that my instruments are performing their best, and has always had relationships with the most incredible luthiers. As a performer, I feel a deep sense of gratitude in knowing that there is someone who can so dependably serve as a partner who supports his musician community and offers only the best for each of his clients. I cannot recommend Jim Kelly and Washington Fine Violins enough!