-When luthier Thierry André first picked up a guitar he felt as if the vibrations of the strings were bound to the divine. At that moment, the theories he was learning in high school—from physics to chemistry— started to make sense, as if they were encompassed within that one note of music.-
J.H. White,
Magnifissance Magazine
About :
"The stringed instrument looks a lot like us - Body, waist, shoulders, neck, head, and so on.
In its wood is also inscribed: Age, terroir, climate, lineage, space-time.
In our image, each piece of wood tells a story.
-When I make a guitar, I open myself to this encounter. It is always new. For this, the resulting work has its own light."
To create this instrument, first draw it, my backdrop is really all the functional and acoustic prerequisites of the object. - I make sure that the guitar sounds good. I have this chance, this direction.
Then I explore the making of each of its components, through the eyes of a non-luthier;
Here I immerse myself in what I experience, what surrounds me, in order to update each element. I open the door to these new forms; especially those that I do not see yet.
I like surprise.
If joy accompanies my work in the studio, in the midst of the repetition of technical tasks, I understand then that I succeed in reaching out to others: - From the heart of the public, also passing through that of my 6-year-old daughter, I aim for everyone to vibrate more strongly in contact with the work.
It is this notion of pulsation, which guides my artistic approach.
I work in this direction."
(T.Andre)
Sun, Moon, and Vibrations - 2019
The Clara archtop. - 2020
-Through his work, André takes full ownership of the making of the guitar instrument: Under his hand, the guitar retains all of its function and historical quality, while is composition is constantly renewed.
Displaying formal, aesthetic, and distinct acoustic research, his expressive language
addresses the entire object rather than its degree of ornamentation.
André validates the idea that the making of a stringed instrument constitutes an act of creation in its own right.-
A. Brunet,
Director, École de lutherie Guitare Bruand
Trained first at the Institute of Crafts of Quebec by André Brunet ('92-97), then apprenticed to Fred Carlson in California (2004), Thierry André is a many time artistic grant & prize recipient, notably with the CMAQ Jean-Marie Gauvreau Prize (2020), the CFCMA Fine Crafts Distinction Award (2022). and his recent nomination as part of the iconic Archtop Foundation’s -The Blue guitars- Collection for 2025.
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING 2005 PERFECTIONNEMENT – FRED CARLSON STUDIOS, Santa Cruz CA, États-Unis 1995-1997 AEC Sp. LUTHERIE-GUITARE – INSTITUT DES METIERS D’ART DU QUÉBEC, Canada 1992-1997 PROGRAMME CONTINU – ATELIER-ÉCOLE LUTHERIE-GUITARE BRUAND, Canada
EXHIBITIONS 2025 The Holy Grail guitar show, Maison de la Musique de Paris (Commissariat, Groupe) France 2023 -Doux-, du 10 au 18 juin, Chapelle des Processions de St-Jean-Port-Joli (Commissariat, Solo) Canada 2020 The Holy Grail guitar show, EGB, Estrel-Berlin (Version web) (Sélection, Groupe) Allemagne 2017 Salon International de guitare de Québec. Centre La Chapelle (Sélection, Groupe) Canada 2017 Woodstock Invitational Luthier Showcase, Bearsville Theatre (Commissariat, Groupe) États-Unis 2017 Boutique Guitar Showcase USA Tour (Commissariat, Groupe) États-Unis 2016 The Holy Grail guitar show, EGB, Estrel-Berlin (Sélection, Groupe) Allemagne 2016 Acoustic Instrument Celebration, Earl Warren Hall CA (Commissariat, Groupe) États-Unis 2015 The Holy Grail guitar show, EGB, Estrel-Berlin (Sélection, Groupe) Allemagne 2015 Woodstock Invitational Luthier Showcase, Bearsville Theatre (Commissariat, Groupe) États-Unis 2014 The Holy Grail guitar show, EGB, Estrel-Berlin (Sélection, Groupe) Allemagne 2013 Woodstock Invitational Luthier Showcase, Bearsville Theatre (Commissariat, Groupe) États-Unis 2011 Mutation Matière Son, Centre Materia Québec (Commissariat, Groupe) Canada 2010 Salon de la guitare de Montréal, Hyatt Regency Montréal (Sélection, Groupe) Canada 2009 Salon de la guitare de Montréal, Palais des Congrès Montréal (Sélection, Groupe) Canada 2008 Salon de la guitare de Montréal, Hyatt Regency Montréal (Sélection, Groupe) Canada 2007 François-Houdé – Exposition, CMAQ, Place Bonaventure Montréal (Jurée, Groupe) Canada 2007 Salon de la guitare de Montréal, Hyatt Regency Montréal (Sélection, Groupe) Canada 2006 SIMMM salon international, Place des Arts, Montréal (Invitation, Groupe) Canada 1997 Symposium of stringed Instruments Artisans, ASIA, Burlington VT (Invitation, Groupe) États-Unis
PEER-JURIED AWARDS & GRANTS 2024 Subvention aux Artistes (Métiers d’art, recherche et création) CAC 2024 Bourse de Développement (Métiers d’art, recherche et création) CALQ 2023 Subvention aux Artistes (Métiers d’art, du concept à la réalisation) CAC 2023 Subvention aux Artistes (Métiers d’art, recherche et création) CAC 2022 Prix Distinction en Métiers d’art Award (Lauréat) CFCMA 2022 Bourse de Développement (Métiers d’art, recherche et création -Projet) CALQ 2022 Subvention aux Artistes (Métiers d’art, recherche et création) CAC 2021 Bourse de Développement (Métiers d’art, recherche et création) CALQ 2021 Subvention aux Artistes (Métiers d’art, recherche et création) CAC 2020 Prix Jean-Marie Gauvreau Award (Lauréat) CMAQ 2020 Subvention aux Artistes (Métiers d’art, recherche et création) CAC 2020 Bourse de Développement (Métiers d’art, recherche et création) CALQ 2016 Bourse de Déplacement (Métiers d’art) CALQ 2016 Subvention aux Artistes (Métiers d’art, recherche et création) CAC 2015 Bourse de Déplacement (Métiers d’art) CALQ 2015 Bourse de Déplacement (Métiers d’art) CALQ 2014 Bourse de Développement (Métiers d’art, recherche et création) CALQ 2014 Bourse de Déplacement (Métiers d’art) CALQ 2013 Bourse de Déplacement (Métiers d’art) CALQ 2013 Subvention aux Artistes (Métiers d’art, recherche et création) CAC 2009 Bourse de Développement (Métiers d’art, recherche et création) CALQ 2007 Prix François-Houdé Award (Mention d'honneur/ Honorable mention) CMAQ 2004 Bourse de perfectionnement (Métiers d'art, type B) CALQ 1999 Prix jeune promoteur Award (Lauréat) CDEC Rosemont-Petite Patrie
PRESS COVERAGE 2023 RADIO-CANADA -Un luthier d’exception : Reportage d’Alexandre Touchette -. Reportage, Canada 2022 MATIERES.CA – CMAQ -Thierry André, d’une simplicité élégante -. Article, Canada 2022 MAGNIFISSANCE -Discovering unique instruments: A guitar that roars -. Article, Canada 2022 WATTS, M. – The Clara archtop – Michael Watts Guitars. Reportage web, Angleterre 2020 LE DEVOIR - Un prix pour le facteur d’instrument Thierry André -. Article, Canada 2020 SARRAZIN, S. - Lutherie Québécoise - LaPresse. Article, Canada 2020 THE CANADIAN - Meeting between Louis-Jean Cormier and Thierry André - Article, Canada 2020 QUB RADIO - Tout un bagage - CMAQ/Québécor Média. Podcast, Canada 2020 LE JOURNAL DE MONTRÉAL - Quand la guitare devient une muse - Article, Canada 2020 WATTS, M. - A fingerstyle archtop – Michael Watts Guitars. Reportage web, Angleterre 2020 EDLUND, C. - Featured artist Thierry Andre - Artsy Shark. Article, États-Unis 2019 MARANO, A. - Design Musicale - Gangemi Editore-Rome. Publication, Italie 2019 KUNG, J. T. - Sun, Moon, and Vibrations revisited - Article, Canada 2017 GALE, J. – A conversation with Rudy Pensa – Boutique guitar showcase. Video, États-Unis 2016 JOURNEL, P. - Thierry André, Holy grail Guitar Show 2016 - interview, France 2015 CARBONNEAUX, J. -The Holy Grail Guitar Show 2015 - interview, France 2015 KAISER, U. - Guitarre -Oud- Kombi - Guitar Ausgabe - Article, Allemagne 2015 D’ANGELO, M. - 10 questions we ask everyone - Guitars Exchange. Article, Italie 2014 CARBONNEAUX, J. - Thierry André - Oudtar 2 et guitare Kouai - Article, France 2011 DESLOGES, J. - Mutations-matière-son - Le Soleil, 17 sept.2011, Article, Canada 2009 SOMOGYI, E. - The responsive guitar - Hal Leonard corporation. Mention, États-Unis 2009 BOURGAULT-CÔTÉ, G. -Des six cordes - Le Devoir, Article, Québec, Canada 2009 CARBONNEAUX, J. - Thierry André, rencontre - Reportage web, France 2006 CMAQ - Luthiers québécois présents au SIMMM - Brochure, Québec, Canada 1999 CIRRUS Communications - Fais-en ton affaire - Portrait 7min, Québec, Canada
COLLECTIONS The Archtop Foundation - Vermont, États-Unis The Blue Guitars (2025). Collection Teti - New Hampshire, États-Unis. Zyra, Multi 2. Sun, Moon, and Vibrations, Clara Archtop, Echoes of Time. Collection Doctorow - New Jersey, États-Unis. Sakura, Oudtar, Multi. Collection Wurcer - Wisconsin, États-Unis. Guitare-Fruit Wurcer. Collection Mtukudzi - Harare, Zimbabwe. Tuku.
The Holy Grail guitar Show - Berlin 2016
-You know I think so highly of you and your stunning, inventive, impossible work.
Truly, it’s a special gift to have you in the profession, thank you for building instruments! -
Ken Parker