HORA S.A. is the largest and oldest musical instrument company in Romania, with a tradition of more than 70 years. Established in 1951 by master Roman Boianciuc, as a workshop, it produced just 37 violins in its first year of operation. A year later, its production increased to 435 violins and has continued to rise with the demand for new stringed instruments built from coveted local tonewood. By the late 1950s, HORA produced guitars and mandolins as well as traditional instruments from different countries. In the 1960s, the company began its shift from workshop production to large-scale manufacturing. New woodworking machines and precision tooling have automated much of the operations, allowing HORA to increase its production severalfold, while maintaining high-quality standards.
Nowadays, HORA S.A. produces around 70 000 musical instruments out of which 8 000 are bowed instruments such as violins, violas, cellos, double basses and 60 000 pinching instruments such as classic and acoustic guitars, mandolins, bouzouki, ukuleles, to name only a few. HORA has the great advantage of having very good quality tonewood like spruce and maple from local sources, the Carpathian Mountains. The tonewood is stored in the company’s warehouses for natural aging for 5-10 years, acquiring exceptional and long-lasting acoustical qualities. Exotic wood such as ebony, rosewood, mahogany, red cedar, brazilwood is also used in the fabrication of instruments. The special quality of the wood combined with the craftsmanship of the workers and technicians contributes to the exquisite quality of the products.
Alongside instruments made for mass production, HORA S.A. builds professional instruments for national and international philharmonics and soloists in a special luthier workshop. The company exports over 80% of its musical instruments all over the world, selling to large distributors worldwide and directly to local music stores. The growth of e-commerce and Internet marketing has allowed Hora to enter new markets. The general manager of the company, Mr. Eng. Nicolae Bazgan, has been working in the factory since 1965, after graduating the University of Brasov, Romania, with a specialization in woodworking machines. He started working as a sector manager and became general manager in 1990. His stable management of the factory assures high-quality production of instruments contributing to its success.
