Emily Dixon, Sales

Emily’s love of music began at the age of seven with piano lessons in her small hometown of Roanoke, Alabama. Although piano remained a big part of her musical life, she found herself exploring other instruments while studying music composition at Birmingham-Southern College. After the completion of her masters degree at the University of Miami, she took a job teaching orchestra in the public school system in Atlanta lasting almost ten years.

This period of her life instilled a passion for education and for people. When the county chose to eliminate the elementary instrumental programs in 2012, Emily decided to chase that same passion and make a career shift. She opened Beau Vinci Violins alongside husband, Mike. Carving out a place in the local community and beyond, Emily has built a regional brand specializing in fine stringed family instruments for over a decade.

Being a part of delicately pairing the player with the right instrument or bow continues to make her the happiest. She also enjoys cooking, traveling and spending time with her husband, Mike, and children, Fiona and Beau.

Michael Dixon, Office Manager

Mike’s passion for small business can be traced back to his teenage days, bussing tables at his aunt’s restaurant in Savanah Georgia. He saw how her customers were not just customers, they were raving fans. She did this by concentrating on having the best steaks and seafood in Savannah and always trying to figure out a new way to make her guests say, “Wow!”. That spirt of pride, service and entrepreneurship was brought forward when Mike and Emily created Beau Vinci Violins.

In Mike’s early years as a musician, he quickly realized the importance of a well crafted instrument. When he joined the corporate world of multifamily real estate management, he realized the importance of efficient business processes and hiring great people. Today at Beau Vinci, Mike dedicates his time to creating and running business systems that empower it’s employees to create a “Wow” product and customer experience.

Daphne Hsu, Luthier

While she wasn’t busy building instruments on her bench, she spent time working with other prominent makers, perfecting her varnishing skills, and attending lectures and workshops from well known educational leaders in our industry (Oberlin Acoustic Workshops, VSA Conferences, Trade Secret Workshop by Rodney Mohr, etc,).

She married a cellist and Georgia native and moved back to Alpharetta upon completion of the Violin Making School of America. She completed an apprenticeship under Sally Mullikin at Beau Vinci Violins and is an indispensable asset to the staff. She enjoys helping musicians with sound adjustments, improving instrument playability and larger restorative projects. In addition to performing all the tasks that come with a violin workshop, she trains all Beau Vinci workshop assistants. She continues to strive for the highest levels of craftsmanship and uses her keen ear and impressive playing ability to serve her on her journey as a luthier.

Daphne spends much of her free time with husband, Zac, and their son Jonas. Her family is very focused on growing and sourcing their own food and spending time trading provisions with like-minded families in our Alpharetta community.

Sally Mullikin, Luthier

Sally cannot remember a time when music and woodworking were not a part of her life. As a young girl, her mom shuttled her to and from violin lessons while her dad taught her basic carpentry. Later, while getting a music degree from Carleton College, she developed an interest in violinmaking and began visiting the shop of a local luthier. He eventually tired of her just standing around and handed her a block plane. Before long, she had made a viola under his tutelage.

In 2002, Sally gained entry into the world-renowned Newark School of Violinmaking in Nottinghamshire, England, where she studied violinmaking, varnish and restoration. She also spent time in the workshops of Reuning and Son, Christophe Landon, and Damien Merrer. Three years later, Sally returned to her home state of North Carolina to work as a restorer for Triangle Strings. She also built new instruments for a growing clientele out of a studio in her home. Creating beautiful tone and optimal playability are the mainstays of her work.

As a member of the Beau Vinci family though, her main focus is restoration and repair. A regular attendee of the Violin Society of America’s summer intensive at Oberlin College, Sally has had the opportunity to work and exchange ideas with respected luthiers from all over the world.

Sally enjoys gardening, baking, and spending time with her husband and 2 children.

Jhonna Catapang, Bookkeeper

Her mission is clear: to nurture and develop young minds, empowering them with the skills and knowledge they need to become professional accountants and thriving individuals in the business world of tomorrow. As a valued member of the Beau Vinci family, Jhonna plays a pivotal role in ensuring the company’s financial health. She collaborates closely with Mike to meticulously prepare and maintain the accurate financial data that is vital to the company’s success.

In addition to her part at Beau Vinci, Jhonna is a dedicated mother and a woman of diverse talents. Her household includes her two precious sons, John Lester and John Louise. A significant chapter in their lives opened when young John Lester discovered his profound love for the violin at the tender age of four. The power of music, particularly the violin, has been a cornerstone of her family’s life.

Jhonna’s story is a testament to the harmonious blend of family, passion, and professionalism. Her dedication to business and music enriches not only her life but also the lives of those in her community.

John Patrick Livingston, Workshop Assistant

John Patrick was inspired to play the cello when he was in middle school. However, it wasn’t until his 13th birthday that he started renting a cello and taking lessons. He has since played with the Alpharetta Youth Symphony for two seasons. He is also interested in chemistry, authors such as Tolkien and Chesterton, and the Latin Language. In addition, he enjoys transposing music, playing guitar and piano.

As a homeschooled student, he has extra time to help out in the Beau Vinci workshop. He enjoys many types of exercise such as swimming as well as hanging out with his Catholic homeschool friends. He also enjoys spending time with his family as much as possible.