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Graham Caldersmith is one of Australia's leading luthiers. He lives and works near the village of Kendall on the Mid-North coast of New South Wales.

Following the great European violin making tradition in his design and conception of sound, Graham's Australian wood instruments are considered serious and uniquely Australian alternatives to high quality European concert instruments.

He followed a Bachelor of Science degree (physics major) from Sydney University with a Master of Science in Fluid Physics from ANU. After a period as Laboratory Manager at ANU, he moved to the University of New England specifically to work with Professor Neville Fletcher, Australia's most eminent musical acoustic physicist.

In 1978, Graham spent a year in Sweden researching the physics of violin and guitar acoustics. He was intrigued by the relationship of speech communication to the vocal characteristics of the violin.

An Australian Research Council Grant in 1980 allowed him to purchase frequency response analysis equipment to continue acoustic research in his own workshop, equipment which remains vital to his work today. In 1982, he was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to study overseas with some of the world's best acoustic researchers.

During the 1980s, Graham moved from a career as a research scientist to one as a master luthier. His scientifically designed violins, violas, cellos and guitars have been embraced by both orchestral musicians and concert soloists. While his instruments follow the great European traditions in design and conception of sound, many of them are notable for being made from Australian timber. They have become serious and unique alternatives to high quality European concert instruments. During the last 15 years he has made 103 violins, 54 violas, 36 cellos and over 100 guitars. Many of these instruments have gone to overseas musicians.

Graham has published regularly in national and international journals. He has lectured at the Convention of American Luthiers and has toured Asia on several occasions sponsored by the Department of Trade and Musica Viva.

He was a sponsor of the first National Guitar Championships at Newcastle Conservatorium and is an ongoing major sponsor of the annual Kendall National Violin Competition.

Prizewinners of previous Competitions have been greatly inspired by the aesthetic and tonal beauty of their Australian wood violins and have continued to be successful participants at important national and international violin competitions.