We understand how difficult it is to find qualified, knowledgeable, and respected individuals to train instrument/bow makers and restorers. Until now, there were no schools in the United States that focused on these specific skills. It is critically important to impart years of experience, knowledge, and skills to the next generation so that musicians have qualified craftsmen and women to keep their instruments and bows in optimal condition.
In 2013, Mohr and Mohr began to offer small group and individualized training to prospective bow makers and restorers near and far. This is a trade difficult to learn and requires constant training. After having reached full capacity since its inception, Mohr & Mohr realized it was time to open a year-round training center focused on specific techniques in both instrument and bow making, as well as repair and restoration with a conservative approach. So, in February 2018, Rodney, Ann, and Katherine Mohr took the plunge and opened Learning Trade Secrets, LLC. The classes will no longer be held year-round, but rather April-August. With plenty of space and a short walk to downtown LTS is at home in the Van Scoy building on Claremont Avenue, one of Ashland's main streets.
Knowing for centuries that makers kept many aspects of varnish and other techniques secret, the Mohr's decided to use the term in the name of the new company, hence 'Learning Trade Secrets.' We hope you will come and learn the many Secrets of the highly acclaimed makers and restorers of the 21st century and centuries past. Instructors are invited from around the country to instruct you on the finer points of making and restoration of stringed instruments and bows, identification, business, and other important topics.
Now that the school has been running for the last 12 years, it is time for the Mohr's to pass on the tradition to a more youthful generation. We hope to announce at the end of the 2026 season, that someone or some group has decided it is worth investing in the industry and steps forward to takeover the tradition.
Rodney D. Mohr
Workshop Director
Bow Maker & Restorer
Rodney D. Mohr has demonstrated his leadership abilities by holding the position of President of the Violin Society of America, American Federation of Violin & Bow Makers, and Center Street Historic District Association. He is a current Board member and Alumni of the Kenneth Warren & Son School of Violin Making, now known as the Chicago School of Violin Making. He is the Chair of the Preservation Board for the City of Ashland Historic District and a member of the VSA and the AFVBM, and is the current Workshop Director of Learning Trade Secrets.
His international reputation as a bow maker and restorer has reached as far as Taipei, Taiwan, where he has been invited to work on the country's finest bows. He has received multiple awards from international competitions and has earned the distinction of Hors' Concours from the Violin Society of America. Mr. Mohr also has been a past judge for VSA International Competitions. He is one of three bow makers in the United States that hold a Master of Bow Making Certificate from the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers, which no longer awards the certificate. As a past Co-Director of the VSA/Oberlin Bow Restoration Workshop and current owner of Learning Trade Secrets and Director of Bow Workshops, Mr. Mohr has spent decades training individuals in the fine art of bow making and restoration, including his daughter Katherine and son Benjamin.
Rodney reached a major milestone in November 2018, having completed his 1,000th bow, now in a private collection. Rodney is currently working toward bow number 1,200. He continues to make and restore bows in his home studio in Ashland, Ohio, where he services musicians and collectors from around the globe. Upon receiving his first patent in 2021, Rodney has now created a third business called "NuBow Inc", where he manufactures violin, viola, and cello bows out of bamboo that are fully sustainable. Visit his booth at the VSA Convention in Minneapolis November 20-22, 2025!
Ann L. Mohr
Business Manager & Finance Director
Ann L. Mohr attended Indiana University as a violin performance major and later the Chicago School of Violin Making, where she earned her diploma. Since then, she has focused her career in finance and business management. She currently owns and operates the business of Mohr & Mohr, Learning Trade Secrets and NuBow Inc. Mrs. Mohr earned her BS in Business with a concentration in acounting from the University of Phoenix, where she graduated with honors and was a member of Delta Mu Delta, Lambda Sigma Chapter of the Business Honor Society. She also holds a Non-Profit Leadership Certificate from The Ohio State University.
As a professional violinist and talented manager, Mrs. Mohr has held many leadership positions, including Principal, Assistant Concertmaster, Personnel Manager, Librarian, and Executive Director of the Ashland Symphony Orchestra. She has been the Finance Manager of the Ashland County Council on Aging and the past treasurer of the Center Street Historic District Association. Mrs. Mohr has volunteered as a Tax-Aide for AARP for 13 years. She currently works for the family's 3rd business, NuBow Inc where she does material prep and administration.
Katherine A. Mohr
Bow Maker, Restorer
And Assistant Instructor
Katherine A. Mohr is recognized as the first second-generation female bow maker in the United States. She owns and operates fille de Mohr, focusing on bow making and restoration to follow in her father's footsteps. Ms. Mohr is the Assistant Instructor for Learning Trade Secrets Bow Workshops. Ms. Mohr is a past board member of the Violin Society of America and past chair of the New Professionals and Social Media Committees. She is the Administrator of several online platforms for fille de Mohr and Violin Business Professionals. Her social media presence in the industry and within other organized groups is virtually unparalleled.
In 2023, Katherine took over the rehairing service in Cleveland where her father Rodney D. Mohr serviced muscians, including those from the Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland Institute of Music, Music School Settlement, and other freelance musicians. Upon her son's graduation from high school in May 2026, Katherine will move North to Cleveland Heights to be closer to her clientele.