Bellwood Violin Shop, in Ashland, Oregon, has been owned and operated by Stephen Bacon since 1991. Here he does repairs and restoration of string instruments and early music instruments of all kinds. In addition he does appraisals, rentals, and sales.

Stephen started music lessons in third grade playing trumpet. Later he learned voice, flute, tuba, recorder, cornetto, and viola da gamba among many other instruments. Stephen began making and repairing musical instruments at age seventeen in his grandfather's shop. His training in instrument work continued through college courses and minor mentoring under a series of masters including Rod Cameron, a Baroque flute maker. Stephen's formal education includes a music degree from El Camino College in Southern California and an independent studies degree in the theory and construction of historic instruments from Cal State Domingues Hills. In addition, he has done extended studies with USC Isomata, UC Riverside, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, and the Ali Akbar School of Music.

Stephen came to Ashland, Oregon in 1979 to play with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Green Show Musicians. He worked here as a recorder maker for a number of years before opening his violin shop. He has served on the board of the Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon since 1999 and recently has begun playing Baroque Trumpet in the Jefferson Baroque Orchestra. Stephen now serves as an honorary adjunct assistant professor for the SOU Collegium.