A groundbreaking moment occurred when an aerospace engineer played a violin not in a concert hall, but in the vastness of outer space. A local violin shop played an essential role in making this dream a reality.
For over 50 years, Albuquerque’s Robertson and Sons Violin Shop has been home to handcrafted string instruments. Now, they have etched their name in history.
The sound of strings is no longer confined to Albuquerque; they can now be heard in outer space. “We were thrilled to be part of this special launch and the first performance by a violinist in space,” said Barbara Barber, a violinist and sales representative at Robertson and Sons Violin Shop.
SpaceX astronaut Sara Gillis became the first person to play a violin beyond the pull of Earth’s gravity. A viral video showcased musicians from around the world, including the legendary John Williams, performing “Rey’s Theme.”
“Sara mentioned that Rey is her favorite Star Wars character. I think she relates to her—adventurous, smart, and talented,” Barber noted.
Gillis’s mother is a long-time friend of Barber’s. “I didn’t know Sara was working for SpaceX. She visited us nearly two years ago and shared her plans to play a violin in space during a SpaceX launch, presenting us with the medallion for the Polaris Dawn mission,” Barber recounted.
Chris Pederson, a world-renowned violin maker at Robertson and Sons for over 25 years, was Gillis’s clear choice for this project. “She took two violins back with her, and we sent a third. They conducted extensive pre-flight testing before the fourth violin was selected for space,” Barber explained.
The process involved rigorous testing and adjustments. “They wouldn’t allow her to take a full-size violin bow due to space constraints, so she used a quarter-size bow, which posed a significant challenge as it’s typically used by children,” Barber said.
Ultimately, the mission was a success. “We were ecstatic, and I know she was too. She looked amazing, especially her hair! We’re unsure how she kept the bow on the string without the weight of gravity to assist her,” Barber added.
Robertson and Sons donated the unique violin to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, which is auctioning it off to raise funds.
