Milan Barbé is a researcher in and maker of historical plucked instruments. After finishing his studies at the conservatory in Ghent, he started his own workshop, in the heart of the city. Here he makes and repairs everything from lutes to guitars, work for which he received a Vocatio grant for young talent in 2023. His work could previously be seen on the Basel Lute Days and the Old Music Festival in Utrecht. Specialising in historical plucked instruments, his research focuses on new methodologies and techniques in the field of organology. Milan combines hands-on artisanal practice with academic inquiry, shedding new light on the acoustic qualities and design of historical and modern lutes.