LOCAL NEWS

Iraq veteran opens violin shop in St. George

Jul 29, 2022, 10:53 AM

ST. GEORGE, Utah — You can always tell when someone is just good at something.

Listening to Chris Hobson play a violin is one of those times.

“Just say when,” he said with his chin on a violin, bow in his right hand, ready to begin.

After 34 years of practicing and performing, it is easy to see and hear why Hobson is really good. Thursday afternoon, after months of dreaming about it, Hobson officially turned his passion into his business.

A ribbon cutting was held in St. George to welcome his new shop, Violin Gallery, to the community.

It’s no secret he loves violins.

Chris Hobson, after suffering PTSD from a tour in Iraq, opened a violin shop in St. George, Utah. (Jeff Dahdah/KSL TV) Chris Hobson, after suffering PTSD from a tour in Iraq, opened a violin shop in St. George, Utah. (Jeff Dahdah/KSL TV) Chris Hobson, after suffering PTSD from a tour in Iraq, opened a violin shop in St. George, Utah. (Jeff Dahdah/KSL TV) Chris Hobson, after suffering PTSD from a tour in Iraq, opened a violin shop in St. George, Utah. (Jeff Dahdah/KSL TV) Chris Hobson, after suffering PTSD from a tour in Iraq, opened a violin shop in St. George, Utah. (Jeff Dahdah/KSL TV) Chris Hobson, after suffering PTSD from a tour in Iraq, opened a violin shop in St. George, Utah. (Jeff Dahdah/KSL TV) Chris Hobson, after suffering PTSD from a tour in Iraq, opened a violin shop in St. George, Utah. (Jeff Dahdah/KSL TV)

“They just have so much character,” Hobson said. “You think about the violin from the 1600s or 1700s and you just wonder who played it? Who listened to it?”

He has some older violins in his shop. Hobson also fixes them, which is something he genuinely enjoys.

“If I can put this back together like a puzzle and have somebody make some great music out of it again, then that’s more than just a hobby,” he said.

The thing is, putting a violin back together so it works again is almost a metaphor for his life.

“It’s getting better now,” said Hobson. “It’s actually much better than it used to be.”

Back in 2003, Hobson was in the Army and was serving a 15-month deployment in Iraq. That experience sure did a number on him.

“There are bombs over there. I didn’t ever expect to see a mushroom cloud. There are these sounds in the dark,” he said. “Experiencing the fear, and seeing the death, and seeing all these horrible things.”

It left him with crippling anxiety and PTSD to the point where he couldn’t even go grocery shopping when he returned home.

“I would abandon my cart because I couldn’t handle the people,” he said.

However, his music was always there when he needed an escape.

“I can focus on just a violin. On just the music that’s coming out. On just the emotion that’s right here and it comes out of my instrument,” said Hobson. “It could be anger or sadness or joy and bliss.”

He received a lot of mental therapy through the years. It also helped that his wife, Jackie, who was also in the Army (they met on the plane to Iraq, which is a whole other story) has been with him for every step and every note of the way.

She’s now his business partner at Violin Gallery and sure is proud of his progress.

“It was just kind of helping him realize his potential and that he was there, and he had value,” Jackie Hobson said. “And, hey, we can do this, and you have so much to give, right?”

It’s part of why they opened this shop. To not only help him, but to help others find their peace.

“I’m trying to help other people experience that same thing and learn to cope through music and just hard work and just know it’s possible to come back from something like that,” he said.

For as good as his music is, Hobson says his life, finally, is even better.

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

Follow @KSL5TVLike us on Facebook...

Eliza Pace

Breeze Airways announces new flights out of Provo to Dallas Fort Worth

Getting to the Lone Star State just got easier. Breeze Airways announced a new flights to Dallas Fort Worth from Provo.

14 minutes ago

(KSL TV)...

Andrew Adams

Data shows significant uptick in gas prices over past month in Salt Lake area

Gas prices rose considerably over the past month in the Salt Lake area, according to data from industry watchers.

1 hour ago

A UDOT snowplow clears the road in Big Cottonwood Canyon on Feb. 9. Up to 2 feet of snow or more is...

Carter Williams, KSL.com

Rain, snow to impact many parts of Utah throughout Easter weekend

It might be spring, but winter weather remains in Utah's forecast for Easter weekend as the end of the traditional snowpack collection period nears.

3 hours ago

Man being taken on stretcher to an ambulance figures blurred...

Lauren Steinbrecher

West Jordan man trying ‘to be funny’ allegedly shot and killed best friend

Investigators believe a joke between friends turned into the shooting death of a West Jordan man. The fatal mistake is also turning into a message police hope every gun owner can hear.

13 hours ago

Matt Gephardt meeting with Denis Hawkins after a rental car company after they ignored his calls fo...

Matt Gephardt

Get Gephardt helps Spanish Fork man clear up insurance claim for rental car damage

Get Gephardt clears up an international rental car insurance standstill.

13 hours ago

small housing units...

Debbie Worthen

Utah’s micro-shelter pilot program gets extension to help homeless

A micro-shelter pilot program will stay in place for at least six more months.

13 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Iraq veteran opens violin shop in St. George