‘Heartbroken’ Vancouver Busker Mourns the Loss of Their Violin

Shawn Whittle, a longtime busker from Vancouver, lost a prized possession – a vintage French violin from the early 1900s – on a late-night SkyTrain ride. Whittle had been playing the instrument for crowds in downtown Vancouver into the early hours of the morning following St. Patrick’s Day. However, when he awoke at King George station, he discovered the violin, his wallet and his phone were missing.

Whittle was devastated by the loss of the violin, which had been loaned to him by a dear friend while he saved up to repair his own instrument. This friend, a violinist based in Winnipeg, was known for her practice of trading old violins, cases, bows, and additional money made through busking with a luthier. Over time, this allowed her to acquire higher quality instruments, including the lost violin, made between 1916 and 1918.

The violin was distinct for its remarkable sound quality, particularly its low end, which Whittle described as the richest he’d ever heard. It was stored in a tattered, red-leather interior case. A Fom Kun style shoulder rest had been used in place of a chin rest, and one of the two bows included had a missing pearl inlay on one side of the frog. Additionally, the case also contained a block of rosin glued to a white fabric piece and a rubber bridge mute.

Whittle has made considerable efforts to find the instrument, calling pawn shops, music shops, and luthiers throughout the Lower Mainland. He also reported the theft to the Vancouver Police. He has offered a small reward for its return, mentioning that it could be returned anonymously via the police. He would also be willing to reimburse anyone who unknowingly bought it from the person who took it.

On the night the violin disappeared, Whittle had been playing Celtic-style tunes, most of them improvised, hoping to earn enough money to cover his rent. He had been busking for over 15 years, starting in his teens by playing makeshift percussion instruments. The lost violin had been his introduction to tuned instruments. It’s loss is significant to Whittle, as it had travelled to 13 countries with its original owner, and he is anguished about potentially being the end of its journey.