BLUE DANUBE VIOLINS GmbH was founded in 2005 by Anthony Armore and Elena Platon. Trained as a conductor, Mr. Armore plays violin himself and had a keen interest in the violin-making tradition in Central and Eastern Europe. Before moving to Europe, he had a violin business in USA. Elena Platon was born in Moldova and lived in Romania before settling in Austria. She played violin as a child and worked in an opera house before venturing into self-employed work.
We believe our success is due to our core values upon which our company is based, which happen to also be our personal values … we listen, we care and put in the effort, we are honest, creative and flexible. We are passionate about the worlds of violin making and violin playing and are happy to be the intermediate between the two.
Besides the violin business, our company produces events for classical artists, such as conducting masterclasses and competitions, tours, recording projects, etc. – www.musikimpresario.com.
Anthony Armore
Born into an Italian-American family near New York City, general manager and director of Blue Danube Violins GmbH, Anthony Armore, has a background as a violinist, orchestral and operatic conductor, and business owner. He first established Blue Danube Violins on the west coast of the United States (San Francisco & Portland) in the late 1990s by making and developing contacts with important violin and bow makers in Central and Eastern Europe. Later, after he took up residence in Europe, Blue Danube Violins GmbH was established in Vienna, where access to the region’s instruments, makers, and materials is ideal for the world market. Mr. Armore also has long experience as a teacher of violin and stringed instruments, working with students, children and adults of all ages, both privately and in private and public schools.
Elena Platon
Elena Platon studied violin as a child and later in preparation to become a teacher. She attended university in Cluj-Napoca, Romania earning a Bachelor‘s Degree in Law and a Master’s in European Business Law. After her university studies, she worked as legal advisor and human resources manager for Opera Constanta in Romania. During this period she began to collaborate with Blue Danube Violins, where she works today as international sales manager. After settling in Vienna, she undertook acting studies and is now working as well as an actress. Elena Platon speaks Romanian, English, Russian, German and basic French.The combination of legal, business (both in private and public sectors), artistic and language skills make her a valuable sales person, capable of creatively handling every situation.
