Vilim D e m s a r was born in 1937 in Ljubljana. His father was the well-known master violin-maker Blaz Demsar (1903-1981). Vilim began to help his father when he was 14. Later he passed his apprenticeship exam in violin-making whilst studying violin, viola and cello at the Music Academy in Ljubljana. After finishing his studies, he gave violin lessons and played viola in various professional orchestras. Throughout this period, he also improved his knowledge by assiduously studying and researching violin-making so that in 1981 he received the status of artist for the violin-making.

The craft of violin-making requires a highly complicated and exhaustive study of all stringed instruments, knowledge of how to play them, skilful hands, a thorough study of the materials instruments are made of, an insight into acoustics as well as a continual improvement in hearing sounds, which all results in forming the sound of a stringed instrument together with the functional and aesthetic shaping of all the parts of a particular instrument.

A violin-maker must never forget that he makes each stringed instrument for many generations to come, that his instrument may contribute to the success of many violinists, violists or cellists since its active life may exceed 300 years