KAUKAUNA, Wis. — Woodworker Scott Felten recently examined his next project for the first time, a pair of used and damaged violins.
“Something can be made out of this where you can save the memories,” said Felten. “This is really rough. I thought, maybe I could make a pair of bookends. I see the beauty in these broken pieces.”
He has already tested his creativity by transforming a string bass into a bookshelf and a cello into a coffee table.
“When I see either an instrument or something that needs a repurpose, it sounds strange, but it speaks to me. It tells me what it wants to be,” explained Felten.
The instruments came from the Kaukauna Area School District Orchestra.
“My mind started spinning. I came up with a design. I sent them the design. They were all excited, and they dropped it off, and I just started going to town on it,” said Felten.
Orchestra teacher Katie Nesemann said the instruments were simply beyond repair.
“Sometimes it’s like a totaled car where it costs more to repair the instrument than it would be to purchase a new one,” said Nesemann.
But they still hold value. Nesemann is planning the school’s first alumni orchestra concert on Jan. 8. As part of the event, the refurbished instruments will be auctioned, along with other items, to help support the orchestra.
“We have a lot of instruments that need repairs that are kind of outside of the budget that we have, as well as we want to be able to provide scholarships for students for traveling and for lessons and music camps,” said Nesemann.
The school sent some broken instruments to Felten, who donated his time and energy and brought them back to life.
“He is putting a lot of time, effort and materials into making those pieces. I’ve gotten to see them in person, and they’re beautiful works of art. With these broken instruments, you can’t envision them turning into something that amazing.”
Felten works out of his home and enjoys repurposing materials.
“One of the things I like to say is, saving memories, one piece at a time,” said Felten.
Though he works on a variety of wood projects, preserving the history of the instruments means a lot to him. He played cornet and tuba growing up.
“You think back to when you were in the band and doing band concerts and just how cool it was. Music moves people. I always loved either being in a choir or playing an instrument. Now I get to work on them,” said Felten.
The new creations won’t play another note, but his efforts may help to keep the music playing in the school.