Former Faculty Joel Eckhaus
Joel Eckhaus is a luthier and former Assistant Professor of Woodworking & Furniture at MECA&D. Joel began building instruments in 1973 and is the founder of Earnest Instruments in South Portland. He studied woodworking at the Shelburne Craft School and Rochester Institute of Technology. He apprenticed at the Tourin Musica in Vermont and has been playing, teaching, designing, building, and repairing stringed instruments for over 40 years. His woodworking expertise also includes sailboat construction, whirligig production and cabinetmaking. Joel plays mandolin, tenor guitar and banjo, ukulele, and musical saw. Graduating MECA&D student Avery Birmingham ’16 completed a luthier internship with Joel.
PechaKucha Portland: "A Tale of Two Luthiers" by Joel Eckhaus from PK #33 "All Eyes on MECA&D". The story of a turn-of-the-century New England luthier, John Henry Parker, and the remarkable parallels between his life and that of contemporary luthier, Joel Eckhaus.
Featured image is by Patrick Scholz '15.