For nearly 40 years, Casa del Sol has been serving the Indianapolis community. Al Stancel and his wife, Clo, founded Casa del Sol in 1973. Al initially repaired instruments in his garage and eventually began making instruments. Shortly after that, he moved to Casa del Sol’s present location on 62nd street. Al taught many young employees the tricks of the trade. Al’s son, Rodger Thompson, joined the Casa del Sol team in 1991 and rigorously studied under Al. After Al’s passing in 1999, Rodger took over running the shop.
In May of 2008, Rodger retired and sold the shop to Jamie Hacker. Jamie began playing viola, and later violin, in her school orchestra, and she grew up buying her instruments from Al. She graduated with a degree in violin performance from Ball State University. She studied violin and viola under several teachers, including William Earnhart, David Russell, Felicia Moye, Sherry Kloss, Harold Levine, Philip Tietze and Anna Vayman.
Jamie worked at Casa del Sol from 2000 to 2001. She learned how to repair instruments from Rodger and continues her education with Mark Womack. She intends to carry on the tradition of excellence for which Al Stancel was so famous, as well as add to it the perspective of a performer.
