Stuart McCormack

Master Case Builder

Mr. McCormack began working at Zuckermann in the fall of 1996. His career in woodworking had begun 32 years earlier as a boat carpenter in Westerly, Rhode Island, interrupted briefly by a 4-year enlistment in the United States Navy, where he earned commendation as a Vietnam combat veteran. He received his initial training at Zuckermann from instrument maker, John Bennet, who was himself one of the original members of the Zuckermann shop under Wolfgang Zuckermann in New York. Stuart energetically took the baton from Bennet and in the years since has developed techniques to build harpsichord cases and parts of exceptional quality and precision. Stuart’s personal interest in and knowledge of trees, wood and lumber figures into his every decision in woodworking. He is the master of, “high-risk woodworking”, as he has dubbed such tasks as simultaneously fitting the complex joinery on both ends of a bentside, for example. Known to whistle as he works, he has proudly signed his name under the soundboard of dozens of harpsichords that are now scattered around the world.