What Shaped Me as a Violin Maker

As a child, I learned to love the simplicity of life in days gone by, spending several months each year in an old farmhouse in the countryside of Lower Austria.
The well house in the courtyard, the sound of the wooden bucket drawing up cool, clear water—ready to be savored or used in the kitchen basin—the sundial, and the enveloping warmth of the wood fire… these are just a few of the pure, simple impressions that deeply etched themselves into my senses. These emotions are now a part of who I am. They compel me to seek and infuse a sense of beauty and harmony into everything I do.

My sense of style and elegance stems from my Triestine grandmother, who introduced me early on to Italian art and all its splendor. As a teenager, I was captivated by the Italian Renaissance—my great idols were Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo. The painter within me awakens every time I varnish an instrument, for my technique is rooted in a deep study of Renaissance painting methods.

Since my youth, I have loved Italy—with its wealth of taste, art, and joyful warmth. To me, Italy was a vibrant, playful world where I felt at home, a world that left me with a creative, spirited approach to my work.

After graduating with honors from high school, I pursued advanced musical studies in Vienna, where I trained as a professional cellist and also studied piano, trumpet, and composition for many years. This broadened my musical sensitivity and technique, and it also allowed me to develop a deep understanding of violin acoustics through in-depth studies in physics and anatomy.

I began building musical instruments in the Netherlands, and it was there that I realized, with absolute certainty, that I had found the perfect synthesis of my skills and passions. Only then did I feel truly fulfilled—I had found my path. I didn’t want to be a musician—I wanted to be a luthier.

My formal training as a violin maker took place at the International School of Violin Making in Cremona.
I’ve had two great privileges: the opportunity to refine my craft in Cremona and to remain closely connected with top-tier musicians in my hometown of Vienna. These two elements continue to be the cornerstones of my professional growth.

From my earliest childhood impressions to the years of study and craftsmanship that followed, everything has contributed to making me who I am today—and to making my violins the mature fruit of many wonderful experiences.
I believe that an exceptional handcrafted instrument is born of knowledge and reason, culture, experience, and manual skill—but also of individual sensitivity.

As a luthier, I consider myself a purist—in both the techniques I use and the approach to my research.

For more than twenty years now, I’ve lived and worked in this beautiful city of Cremona, long recognized as the global heart of violin making.
I am a  member of the “Cremona Cultural District.”
I have been married for 23  years and am the father of three children. Through my wife, I have also come to love Japan, and our cultural exchange continues to open new horizons that subtly shape my professional work.